PURPOSE: To enable loading of reaped and bound rush bundles onto a machine body in as large an amount as possible, simultaneously provide a forward rising tilted state of the machine body even in loading thereof and enable safe and stable lifting and lowering operation by improving a structure of the machine body and a driving method for an operation mechanism.

CONSTITUTION: The front and back of a machine body 11 are connected with a pivoting transverse shaft 19 and the front of the machine body 11 is set so that the front of the machine body 11 may perform lifting and lowering operation about the shaft line of the transverse shaft 19. Operation mechanisms (A) to (G) for applying a series of action such as grass dividing raising up, reaping and bundling to rushes and an operation power distribution shaft 29 for the operation mechanisms (A) to (G) are installed in the front of the machine body 11. On the other hand, the back of the machine body 11 is formed as a carrier table 21 for carrying rush bundles (M) after bundling in a lodged posture and an engine 12 to be a driving source for the operation mechanisms (A) to (G) and an intermediate shaft 14 for transmitting power from the engine 12 to the power distribution shaft 29 are simultaneously provided. The intermediate shaft 14 is arranged so as to locate on the back side by a prescribed interval distance (X) from the pivoting transverse shaft 19. The pivoting transverse shaft 19 and the power distribution shaft 29 are transversely supported parallel. The intermediate shaft 14 and an output shaft 30 of the engine 12 are linked with the first endless transmission belt 31 and the intermediate shaft 14 and the power distribution shaft 29 are linked with the second endless transmission belt 32.