NO. 11. 



THE FAK.MERS CABINKT. 



175 



chines — this opposition arose from imperfect 

 machinery, but still this very opposition re- 

 tarded the perfection of the very machine it 

 opposed. So in reaping and movvinjr, some 

 imperfect attempts have been made which 

 were not perfectly successful; and hence the 

 whole scheme has been condemned. 



Hut why condemn it"? Is it more improba- 

 ble that this can be done than that cotton 

 can be ginned by machinery — packed by 

 machinery — picked by machinery — carded 

 by machinery — spun by machinery, and wo- 

 ven by macliinery] Of the two operations, 

 supposing nothing of the kind had been 

 done, we would rather undertake to accom- 

 plish the harvesting by machinery than the 

 spinning, and yet the latter has far, very far 

 outstripped the other. It seems, however, 

 that the ingenious in many parts of the 

 Union are at worK at this business. The 

 Editor of the Baltimore P'armerand Garden- 

 er some time since gave the following ac- 

 count of Hussey's Grain Cutter : 



The Horse Mowing Machine. — We at- 

 tended on Monday week last, by invita- 

 tion, to witness the operation of the Horse 

 Mowing Machine invented by Mr. Hussey, 

 of Cincinnati, Ohio. The theatre selected 

 for its operation was a field of oats, belong- 

 ing to Dr. Hitch, situate in the northwestern 

 part of our city, containing about six acres. 

 The persons collected together to see this 

 novel innovation upon old established cus- 

 toms were not numerous : with those, how- 

 ever, who did attend, the principle of cu- 

 riosity was, as it was reasonable to expect 

 it would be, actively alive; but it was soon 

 destined to be arrested in its gratification ; 

 for after the enterprising inventor of the ma- 

 chine had twice made his way around the 

 field, its owner stopped his further progress, 

 .uro^ed to the adoption of his course, as we 

 were informed, by the fear that a part of the 

 company would injure his grain by following 

 the implement, and from the circumstance 

 of the stubble being cut too long. In com- 

 mon with those present, we regret that rea- 

 sons sufficiently cogent existed in the opi- 

 nion of the proprietor to produce the result 

 we have mentioned, as the disappointment 

 affected alike the inventor and those who at 

 considerable trouble, under a scorching sun, 

 had convened to witness the experiment. 

 Contentincf ourself with the remarks we 

 have made with respect to the cause of the 

 stopping of the work, we will make a passing 

 observation or two in regard to the work 

 itself. The machine was drawn by two 

 horses, and mowed at a smart trot, cutting 

 the grain as it went with considerable clean- 

 liness, as much so, probably, as could have 

 been done with cradles, with the exception, 

 that the stubble, as we have before premised, 



was left too long, being about six inches in 

 length; the inventor of the machine, how- 

 ever, assured us that he could have lowered 

 the cutting knives to three inches. It may 

 be but justice to observe that ilie field was 

 rough and cloddy, and presented a very une- 

 ven surface to act upon, which may account 

 in part for the height at which the knives 

 were set. So far as our own opinion may 

 be entitled to consideration, we believe the 

 machine better adapted to level fields than 

 broken ground, and we have no doubt at all 

 that on the Eastern Shore of this state, in 

 Eastern Virginia, and other portions of our 

 country where grain is cultivated on lur!:;e 

 even fields, it would be found truly useful, 

 and that it will be found an object with the 

 wealthy proprietors of lands in those sections 

 of country to procure one. It certainly cuts 

 with great expedition, and we should sup- 

 pose, from what we saw, that it would be 

 able to mow twenty or twenty-five acres a 

 day. Mr. Hussey assured us, that he had 

 given great satisfaction to the members of 

 the Agricultural Board of Talbot County, 

 on the eastern shore of this state, before 

 which body he had operated with his ma- 

 chine, and we sincerely trust this distin- 

 guished association may publish an account 

 of his labors in that quarter, for from the 

 intelligence and standing of its members 

 their opinion will be held in high estimation 

 in every quarter where correct information 

 is duly appreciated. — Maine Farmer. 



Sagacity of the Horse. — The Pennsyl- 

 vania Sentinel relates the following anec- 

 dote of the sagacity, and, humanity, shall we 

 call it ■? of the horse. 



As the Germantown stage, drawn by four 

 horses, was passing along Third street, 

 above Willow, a small child endeavoured to 

 cross the street in advance of the leaders, 

 apparently without observing the dangerous 

 proximity of the latter. One of the leading 

 horses appeared to appreciate the situation 

 of the infant, and made every eflfort to avoid 

 coming in contact with it. He swerved from 

 the direct line as far as he could, and endea- 

 vored to pass it, but being brought up by the 

 rein, was forced against and prostrated the 

 child. The instant the latter fell he stopped, 

 as if to allow it to escape; but being driven 

 forward by the hinder horses and the impe- 

 tus of the vehicle, he reared himself on his 

 hind legs, and with one bound cleared the 

 body. In doing this, either from design or ac- 

 cident, he threw the child, with his hind foot, 

 out of the track, so that when the heavy car- 

 rige passed on, it did not run over it, al- 

 though it came within a few inches of it. — 

 This may be instinct, but it looks to us mai- 

 vellously like reason and feeling. 



