136 BOARD OF AGllICULIUKE. 



barn, without liaving had any manual labor applied to it, except to 

 open the windrows, the morning after it was cut. I can only say 

 that no five acres of my grass this season have been made into hay 

 with half the economy and expedition that T was able to apply to 

 these, by means of machinery. 



I would express my obligations to you for bringing the machine 

 into my notice, and I really trust our farmers will, ere long, be 

 enabled to obtain them at reasonable prices, and of American 

 manufacture. 



Truly, your friend and serv't, 



Gko. B. Loring. 

 R. S. Fay, Esq., Secretary. 



The horse pitchfork is an implement which might be introduced 

 to advantage upon many of our large hay farms. Pitching hay by 

 hand labor is very fatiguing work, but by the use of this, brute force 

 may be substituted ; and as the effective force of a horse is estimated 

 to be equal to that of five men, it should take only a fifth as long to 

 pitch a load of hay by this mode as in the usual manner ; and such 

 is said to be the result of actual trial. 



Several forks have been introduced for pitching by horse power, 

 of which one recently constructed by C. E. Gladding of Troy, Pa., 

 has some decided advantages over previous ones. It has a hinge- 

 joint at the connexion of the head with the handle, so that by pulling 

 a rope the fork is dropped and the load deposited instantaneously as 

 it is swung to the most favorable spot. It may thus be used under 

 circumstances where the horse fork without the hinge, would be of 

 no use, as under a low roof, beyond purlin beams, or when the mow 

 is nearly filled; nor is there the danger or inconvenience which 

 might arise from the upward sweep and fiilling back of the handle 

 of a fork without such joint. It is understood that Mr. Gladding 

 proposes to furnish this fork with the necessary ropes, pulleys, &c., 

 for twelve dollars. 



Caps made of cotton cloth for the purpose of protecting hay while 

 in cock from dews, showers and storms, are an introduction into 

 farm practice of comparatively recent date, yet have they so com- 

 mended themselves by good works as to have come into general and 

 almost universal favor. A few yet oppose their use, but rarely, if 

 ever, is a farmer found to depreciate their usefulness and economy 

 who has once fairly tried them. In the replies received to the ques- 



