182 



THE GENESEE FARMEPw. 



Fis. 1. 



HAEEOWS AND HAEEOWING. 



The haiTOW is nn indispensable implement in the 

 cultivation of the soil, and next to the plow in its 

 importance to the farmer. There are many forms 

 given in its construction ; some of these we shall 

 notice and describe. 



The Scotch or 

 Square Harrow, 

 when made of 

 light timber and 

 furnished with 

 small and sharp 

 teeth, is one of 

 the most effectu- 

 al for the pulver- 

 ization of smooth 

 land. Fig 1. suf- 

 tioiently explains 

 its arrangement 

 and construction. 



Another form of Square Harrow in common use 

 is shown in fig. 2. It requires less gearing, and 

 accommodates itself to uneven land more perfectly 

 than the former. Sometimes thirty, and sometimes 

 thirty-six teeth are used. 



The Geddes Harrow (fig. 3) is said by good judges 

 to be the best in use. Its wedge-like form enables 

 it to pass obstructions easily, its ijiotion is more 

 even and steady, and consequently easier for the 

 team. An improvement in 

 the draft is effected by attach- 

 ing a chain to staples on each 

 side, as far back as the second 

 tooth. This prevents the har- 

 row rising in the middle, as 

 it will do if the traces are as 

 short as they should be for 

 easy draught. The timbers 

 of this harrow may be of 3 by 

 Fig. 2. 4-inch scantling, though for 



the square harrow 3 by 3-inch is sufficiently heavy. 

 Three-quarter inch teeth are large enough for any 

 purpose. They should be pointed with steel, and 

 kept sharp. The cost is somewhat increased, but 

 the improvement is real, to have a shoulder under- 

 neath, and a nut screwing on at the top, as the teeth 

 are then firm and can not drop out. A harrow 

 made of good timber, with a good coat of paint, 

 renewed as often as necessary, will last a long time. 



Harrows with wooden 

 teeth are in common use 

 among European farm- 

 ers, and nowhere is har- 

 rowing better under- 

 stood or performed than 

 in the old countries. — 

 We may, and no doubt 

 do, have as good imple- 

 ments; but we do not 

 use them as thoroughly 

 — or as many times in 

 succession. "\Ve are "a 

 go-ahead people," but we 

 are learning daily that 

 thorough work is the 

 T.'ork which pays. In the use of the harrow, the 

 work may be facilitated by keeping the implement 

 clear of sods and stones, and the speed of the team 

 should be increased above that when employed at 



Fig. 3. 



the plow. A team will soon learn to walk just on 

 the edge of the previously harrowed ground, and 

 we would always give a lap of at least half the 

 width of the implement. If we wished to go over 

 the field three or four times, we would go each 

 time in a ditferent direction — lengthwise the fur- 

 row, crosswise, and diagonally. In this way, the 

 pulverization would l)e the more eflfectually per- 

 formed. " Serpentine harrowing " is some times 

 practiced in Germany — the team is driven across 

 each land and back, making a line resembling the 

 letter S, or two figures of 8 place one mider the 

 other. 



The action of the harrow tends to consolidate as 

 well as to pulverize the soil ; and after plowing, it 

 needs something of the kind to fit it for the best 

 growth of plants. This is best performed with a 

 good harrow — a poor one injures rather than bene- 

 fits the soil. Let us look to this branch of practical 

 tillage, that we perform it well. j. h. b. 



EACK POS FEEDING CATTLE. 



"A CHEAP and strong rack for feeding cattle," 

 such as inquired after by Mr. Likket, of Iowa, may 

 be made of boards and scant- 

 ling, six feet square, as shown 

 in figure 1, exhibiting one 

 side of the same. The posts 

 are four inches square; the 

 horizontal scantling, a, two 

 by four inches. A bottom 

 may be laid in upon this, or 

 it may be filled up with straw 

 to this level. Each side is 

 exactly alike; and when strongly nailed together, 

 they will last for many years. 



Another form, on the same principle, may be 

 described as follows : The posts, four by four scant- 

 ling ; the lower board, from twenty to twenty-four 

 inches wide ; the braces and upper board, ten 

 inches wide ; of hard wood, 

 and nailed together firmly 

 with large wrought nails. 

 Six feet square is sufficiently 

 large for four head of cattle 

 to eat fi-om without quarrel- 

 mg, or being able to reach 

 each other. Fig. 2 shows 

 one side only, as in the first 

 instance. 



These racks are in successful use by many farm- 

 ers, and will save their cost in fodder in a single 

 whiter. J. H. 



Punjalton, 2r. Y., May, 1&5S. 



m I fc 



India Eubbee Taps ok Boots Dttp.ixg- Haying. 

 — If you think this worthy a place in your highly 

 esteemed journal, and will give it room, I am cer- 

 tain you will receive the thanks of many a luckless 

 wight who has slipped "full oft" from his hay rack 

 while pitching off" his load. It is well known by 

 all hay makers, that the soles of boots or shoes, in 

 the hot dry weather during haying, become smooth 

 as glass, and fuU as uncertain for a foothold. Now 

 to remedy this evil, I take the soles from a pair of 

 cast-otF rubber shoes, and tack them to the bottoms 

 of my boots. Since this has been my practice, I 

 have at all times known where to find my feet whea 

 I put them down. D. — Gates, 



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