32 [Senate 



evident improvement made within the last year, in the construction 

 of straw cutters; there being great competition in that article by 

 fifteen different makers, several of which we are gratified to say, are 

 from neighboring states, and afforded at prices ranging from five to 

 fifty dollars. The committee found great difficulty in determining 

 the superiority of several machines, and have been influenced in their 

 decision, in several cases, by their preference to those machines which 

 work on the side, rather than on the front, whereby one person can 

 feed and operate them at the same time ; which decision rejects 

 several of great ingenuity of construction and perfection of opera- 

 tion. They have endeavored to prefer those which by their arrange- 

 ment and construction, seem best adapted to the wants of the farm- 

 ing community; they have therefore awarded the first premium of 

 eight dollars, to Wm. Hovey of Worcester, Mass. 



' The second premium of $5, to J. Standish of Fishkill, Dutchess 

 county, N. Y., for his Guillotine Cutter. 



To Messrs. Botts and Burfoot of Richmond, Va. a diploma. 



This machine was exhibited under rather unfavorable circumstan- 

 ces, having been injured some by transportation. The advantages of 

 this machine, as set forth by the proprietors, in their statement, are 

 as follows: " The extreme simplicity of the knife, it being only 4^ 

 inches wide, and straight on the edge, putting it in the power of any 

 laborer to grind it and set it on again. The peculiar management 

 by which the ' draw-cut'' is obtained with a straight blade; the rapid- 

 ity and ease with which the straw is cut, discharging as much or more 

 than any other machine which cuts as short as this; the great strength 

 and durability of the whole machine; no liability to get out of order; 

 the great excellence of the feeding apparatus, and the ease and rapid- 

 ity with which it is driven, it being in the power of a boy to cut suffi- 

 cient straw or hay for a large herd," &c. 



The committee avail themselves of the present opportunity of re- 

 commending this machine to their southern friends, as being in their 

 opinion, a very efficient machine, and well adapted to cutting hay, 

 straw, and corn stalks, and earnestly hope the enterprising proprie- 

 tors may receive that encouragement they so richly deserve. 



There were two machines, one for hand, the other for horse power, 

 presented from the well known and popular establishment of the 

 Messrs. R. Sinclair Jr. & Co. of Baltimore. These machines are 

 made in a workmanlike manner, combining some important improve- 

 ments, great strength and power, and well adapted to large establish- 

 ments; have been long in use and much approved of, and had we 

 funds at our disposal, would most willingly award them a premium. 

 For the horse power machine, they are entitled to a diploma. 



The committee cannot pass over in silence, the new constructed 

 and very ingenious machine, presented by Mr. Kells of Claverack. 

 This machine embraced some new principles in the feeding apparatus, 

 by which means the cut from to 2 inches could be effected by mere- 

 ly raising a small bolt or slide. It also compressed the substance to 

 be cut, nearly into a solid mass to receive the knife, by which means 

 the straw was cut square and clean, and the greatest objection to it 



