208" AGRICULTURAL ESi*.?^ 



The Horse-Rake. 



A- horse-rake may be procured at an expense not exceeding^ 

 two dollars. It is constructed thus : Take a stick of timber, 

 of any stout wood, ash, chessnut, fir, or spruce, will be suffi- 

 cient, ten feet long, if your mowing. lands are free from ob- 

 structions, and if obstructed with stumps or rocks, then short- 

 en the head of the rake to your convenience. The rake-head 

 may be three and a half inches by two and a half diameter, 

 or as you please; The t^eth should be twenty-two inches 

 long, and one inch by one inch and a half diameter, and set 

 firmly into the head, about two inches and a half apart. These 

 teeth may be made of firm white ash, or walnut, or oak. The 

 Jeeth should b6 made at the end to turn up, so as to run on the 

 ground like a small sled, and not into the earth. On the top^ of 

 the head should be fixed about sevea small standards, eighteen 

 inches high, to prevent the hay falling over the head; In the 

 centre of the head fix two handles, such as are usually fixed 

 to ploughs, at a suitable distance, to guide and steady the rake. 

 From the ends of the rake extend a ropeof the size of a cart, 

 rope, to fasten the horse's collar. The distance of the horse 

 from the rake may be such a&^to leave room foj.tiie hay to, 

 gather. Observation will soon direct the length of. the ropes. . 

 Gare must be used to have the teeth set even and 2rm, that they 

 may run near the earth. This raka may be used to collect the 

 hay into winrows, or pile it up into heaps ; and it is useful in. 

 all grain fields, to glean the scattered grain, and to lay down 

 the stubble close to the earth, to rot and promote vegetation. 



This rake may be considered a labor-saving machine, and is 

 particularly useful, when the place of deposit for your hay is 

 in the same fifeld where the grass is out, whether it is to be 

 stacked or put into a barn ; as you can then gather large piles 

 out of the winrow, and draw them direct to tlie pfece of depo- 

 sit at one and the same operation,.,thereby saving. the once 

 gitching of your hay.. 



