346 CARPENTER'S HORSE-RAKE. 



badly manufactured. This, if true, is enough to con- 

 demn any farm implement, because farmers are not 

 generally so situated as to be able to afford such fre- 

 quent mishaps." 



Still another patent, which promises to be a great 

 addition to our present facilities for raking hay, has 

 been introduced under the name of " Carpenter's Im- 

 proved Horse-rake." This rake is seen in Fig. 168. 

 The parties interested claim for it very important 

 advantages over the horse-rakes now in common use. 

 The driver rides upon the rake comfortably seated, and 

 by means of a lever, which he can move at will, and 

 without changing his position, frees the hay gathered in 

 the teeth of the rake. 



It is a double rake, made for both smooth and rough 

 ground. On smooth ground the wheels may be used, 

 while on rough ground the driver may walk behind and 

 manage it with ease, and adapt it without difficulty to 

 inequalities of surface. As it is a new implement, and 

 has not been extensively used, I cannot speak of it from 

 personal observation or experience. 



The frequent losses to which farmers are subject in 

 making hay have suggested the use of hay-caps, made 

 to cover the cocks and protect them from the weather. 

 It is but recently that their use was introduced, and, 

 like most novelties, it has met with objections from 

 some on the score of economy, while their use is as 

 strongly approved by others on the same ground. I 

 have often seen them used, and the time taken to cover 

 an acre of grass or hay in cock partially cured is less 

 than most would naturally suppose. Where they are to 

 be used, less care is needed for " trimming down" the 

 cock, and putting it in a condition to shed the rain in 

 the best possible manner. 



An experienced practical farmer says : " I have used 



