Abstract: An improvement to a harvesting machine where the harvesting machine comprises a substantially horizontal elongate cutter comprising a cutting member mounted in association with a base member for relative longitudinal reciprocatory action of one with respect to the other. The improvement comprising a feed device consisting of a plurality of elongate planar strips of flexible resilient material mounted at one end and in spaced relation along the elongate cutter to reciprocate along an axis parallel to the elongate cutter. The strips being mounted such that their plane is substantially perpendicular to that of the cutter and they extend rearwardly of the cutter, wherein the free end of the strip can swing freely with the reciprocation of the cutting member to sweep material cut by the cutter rearwardly from the cutter.