106 [Assembly 



the pleasure of the driver, giving to it the capability of cutting 

 the heads of grasses for seed, and afterwards the straw or stems 

 and leaves for fodder ; it runs on wheels ; is easily moved from 

 place to place; is strongly braced, and by an ingenious arrange- 

 ment is capable of being contracted into a small compass for hous- 

 ing when not in use. Another peculiarity common to both Mr. 

 Manny's and Mr. Murray's knives, is a cutting edge at the base, 

 intended to prevent clogging. A reel is used with this machine, 

 which has a tendency to lay the grass in waves, and not of uni- 

 form thickness over the surface of the field. 



Ketchum's Machine is remarkable for its compactness and sim- 

 plicity of construction, also for the perforation of the knives, 

 which, it it is claimed, renders impossible to clog in the cutting 

 operation; the knives cut with a blant edge at this perforation, 

 necessarily consuming more power to effect the object than if it 

 be a sharp edge. A curved iron elbow connects the knife or 

 cutter bar with the running parts of the machine, bringing the 

 knives close to the ground. It needs perhaps more strength and 

 uniformity in mechanism — it works without a reel, performing its 

 work admirably, 



McCormick's Machine cuts with knives of a peculiar form, 

 being broad at the base, short in length and having a sickle edge 

 working between spear-shaped teeth or lingers. The construc- 

 tion of this machine is too fragile for useful purposes, the knives 

 yielded after a few swaths were cut, needing to be replaced by 

 another set; these yielded also. The stubble was left long and 

 uneven. 



Burrall's Machine was presented for trial direct from the work- 

 shop, and now first subjected to its intended w^ork. It is ingen- 



