Why would a mechanical reaper be an improvement for farmers? It would save them time and labor. It would allow them to plant other crops. It could be used for breaking up the soil of the prairie.

It would save them time and labor.

Explanation:

A mechanical harvester is very useful equipment for farmers because it can save time, labor and even money. This is because a mechanical reaper does the work of many men in a few minutes and only needs an operator to manage it. This way, the farmer would not need to hire workers to do the work of the reaper, since he himself could direct it and do a job very quickly and more efficiently.

the steam engine.

the locomotive.

the telephone.

the telegraph.

the internal combustion engine.

the rifle.

ironclad ships.

electricity/light bulb.