Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 1.djvu/349

Rh IMPLEMENTS.] AGKICULTUEE 323 Section 1 3. Mowing-Machines. Anotlier class of labour-saving machines, closely allied to those we have just described, for which we are indebted to our American cousins, is mowing-machines. Several different forms cf these were introduced and brought into somewhat general use during the years 1858 and 1859. Having used such machines for the past fourteen years we can testify to their thorough efficiency, and to the very great saving of labour, and still more of time, which can be secured by means of them. In one instance 30 acres of clover a very full crop, and partially lodged were mown in 32 hours, and this under all the disadvantages of a first start. This machine being of very light draught, a pair of horses can work it at a smart pace without difficulty. By employing two pairs of horses, and working them by relay, it can, in the long days of June and July, be kept going sixteen hours a day, and will easily mow from 16 to 18 acres of seeds or meadow in that time, making, moreover, better work than can ordinarily be obtained by using the scythe. These mowing-machines, which cost from 16 to 25 each, have proved a most seasonable and truly important addition to our list of agricultural implements. That they may be used to advantage, it is absolutely necessary to have the land well rolled and carefully freed from stones. Section 14. Haymakers. Haymakers are valuable implements, and well deserving of more general use. They do their work thoroughly, and enable the farmer to get through a great amount of it in snatches of favourable weather. Where manual labour is scarce, or when, as in Scotland, haymaking and turnip- thinning usually come on hand together, the mower and haymaker render the horse-power of the farm available for an important process which cannot be done well unless it is done rapidly and in seasoa Section 15. Horse-Rakes. Horse-rakes are in frequent use for gathering together the stalks of corn which are scattered during the process of reaping, for facilitating the process of haymaking, and also for collecting weeds from fallows. By an ingenious contrivance in the most improved form of this implement, the teeth are disengaged from the material which they have gathered without interrupting the progress of the horse. We seem to be verging on the time when, by means of machines worked by horse-power, farmers will be enabled to cut and carry their grass and grain with little more than the ordinary forces of their farms. Section 16. Wheel- Carriages. The cartage of crops, manure, &c., upon an arable farm, is such an important part of the whole labour performed upon it (equal, as shown by a recent estimate, to one-half), 1 that it is a matter of the utmost consequence to have the work performed by carriages of the most suitable kind. It was for a long time keenly debated by agriculturists, whether waggons or carts are most economical. This question is now undoubtedly settled. Mr Pusey says, &quot; It is proved beyond question that the Scotch and Northumbrian farmers, by using one-horse carts, save one-half of the horses which south country farmers still string on to their three-horse waggons and three-horse dung-carts, or dung-pots, as they are called. The said three-horse waggons and dung-pots would also cost nearly three times as much original outlay. Few, I suppose, if any, fanners buy these expensive luxuries now, though it is wonderful they should keep them ; for last year at Grantham, in a public trial, five horses with five carts were matched against five waggons with ten horses, and the five 1 See Morton s Cyclopaedia of Agriculture. Article &quot;Carriages.&quot; horses beat the ten by two loads.&quot; 2 The one-horse cart* here referred to are usually so constructed as to be easily adapted to the different purposes for which wheel-carriages are needed upon a farm. For each pair of wheels and axle there is provided a close-bodied cart, and another with sparred sides and broad shelvings, called a long-cart, or harvest-cart, either of which can easily be attached to the wheels, according to the nature of the commodities to be carried. Sometimes a simple movable frame is attached to the close-body to fit it for carrying hay or straw ; but although one or two such frames are useful for casual pur poses throughout the year, they are inferior for harvest work to the regular sparred cart with its own shafts. In some districts the whole of the close-bodied carts used on the farm are made to tip. For many purposes this is a great convenience; but for the conveyance of grain to market, and generally for all road work, a firm frame is much easier for the horse, and less liable to decay and de rangement. The Berwickshire practice is to have one pair of tip-carts on each farm, and all the rest firm or dormant - bodied, as they are sometimes called. Many farms are now provided with a water or tank cart, for conveying and distributing liquid manure. Section 17. Road-Engines. Although many attempts have been made to adapt the loco motive steam-engine for the conveyance both of passengers and goods on common roads, the results hitherto have not been altogether satisfactory. Progress is, however, undoubt edly being made in this effort ; and in not a few instances such engines are actually in use for the carriageof heavy goods. If beet sugar factories should increase in Great Britain, the carriage of the roots from the farms to the factories will probably be performed by traction engines ; for the inex pediency of withdrawing the horse-power of the farm from its other urgent work at the season most suitable for deliver ing these roots to the sugar-maker presents at present a serious hindrance to the cultivation of this crop. MACHINES FOR PREPARING CROPS FOR MARKET. (Sections 18, 19, 20.) Section 18. Steam- Engines. The extent to which steam-power is now employed for the purposes of the farm is another marked feature in the recent Portable Steam-Engine. (Clayton, Shuttleworth, &. Co.) progress of agriculture. We have already referred to the value of water-power for propelling agricultural machinery 2 Mr Pusey s Report, in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England vol. xii. p. 617.