at the Salisbury Meetinr/, 1857. 443 



Litors should be very careful to come prepared for work, as the judges have 

 no time to waste. Mr. jS^icholson exhibited a large two-horse rcachine upon 

 his usual pattern, but it did not work quite so well ; one set of tines was not 

 AvhoUy free before the grass was caught by the following set on the cylinder. 

 We awarded it a commendation. Our best attention was given to test the 

 varied merits of this class of machines : and it is only when they come together 

 in such close competition that we are ]irivileged with a comparison of such 

 merit. We believe we have eqviitably dealt with each as it appeared in trial 

 before us. 



Horse-Eakes. 



The next class was that of Horse-rakes. In this class we had a greater 

 •competition, and only partially withered grass, not hay, upon which to test 

 them. We had thirteen competitors, and a very small field. However, we 

 put them all upon the same trial : first to draw the heavy tedded gi-ass into 

 rows, and then to make the intervals clean. It was soon evident that some 

 rakes would not do this kind of work at all, while others were quite an fait 

 at it ; we readily admit this was not their legitimate use, but if capable of 

 doing this, all the better. Eowsell's large wind-rowing rake was put to this 

 work, and did it, as well as afterwards raking the rye-field in so effectual a 

 wa3% that we recommended a silver medal to be given to it. Upon the whole 

 we thought that under these arrangements we could see sufficient in the various 

 trials to enable us to give a fair decision. The first rake tried was one ex- 

 hibited b}^ Mr. Samuclson, the invention of Marychurch of Haverfordwest. 

 It has a self-relieving movement, or can be relieved by a string held by the 

 leader. It drew up the grass tolerably, and worked pretty well in clean-raking. 

 We highly recommended it, chiefly for the peculiarity in the delivery, being 

 nearly self-acting. Price 8?. 8s. ; taking, 6 ft. Mr. Fisher's came next. The 

 beams are of tubular iron, and the teeth of spring-steel, curving forward. It 

 worked well in every respect, and the material and simplicity of its construc- 

 tion we approved, and awarded it our lowest prize of 11. Messrs. Howard's 

 rake next came before us. It is also fitted as a weed extirpator after Phillips' 

 patent. The teeth are of steel, of great length, curve, and capacity, so that 

 obstructions rarely interfere, and they can be adjusted so as to ride over the 

 ground and gather the barley without soil. The lifting bar is above the teeth, 

 giving it an advantage in filling and emptying. The links in lifting bar 

 rather objectionable. Takes 7 ft. 3 in. It drew up the heavy grass admirably, 

 and its clean-raking Avas perfect. The prize of 2>l. Williams's rake was next 

 tried. It is a long and superior rake, taking 7 ft. 6 in. The compound lever 

 makes it easy to lift, and its arrangement for permitting the teeth to swim 

 over the surface to gather up barley without soil is good. It di-ew up grass 

 and did its clean-raldng well. Highly commended. Messrs. Barrett and Co.'s 

 came next. It is a useful implement : the teeth are too short and not heavy 

 enough for drawing into rows. Is good at clean-raking. Messrs. Smith and 

 Ashby's was next tried. It is the old original Stamford rake improved, and 

 few excel it. It is light, but works remarkably well. The teeth are steel and 

 angular, not sickle-shaped. It drew up heavy grass better than any other, 

 and it clean-raked admirably ; it is also adapted for twitch. A prize of \l. 

 Messrs. Cooper and Co.'s rake was next submitted to us. This is the 

 counterbalance lever-rake, i.e. a weighty casting at the other end of the teeth. 

 It would not draw up the heavy gi-ass on this account. The balancing makes it 

 useful for barley raking : it has weed-extirpating tines. . We highly com- 

 mended it for this balancing princii)le. Messrs. Eansomes and Sims' rake 

 came next. This is a very good rake, and well made ; the lift is rather hard. 

 It has a sliding rod to take every alternate tooth out of work when required : 



