132 



SILK MANUAL, AND 



to Maryland, and >Aibn»it it to their inspection. It 

 was accordingly exhibited in Oxford, Talbot Co. 

 on the firgt of July, in presence of the Board and 

 a considerable number of other gentlemen. Its 

 performance may be justly denominated perfect, as 

 it cuts every spear of grain, collects it in bunches 

 of the proper size for sheaves, and lays it straight 

 and even for the binders. On the 12th of .July, a 

 public exhibition was ivnde at Easton, under the 

 direction of the Board ; several hundred peri^ons 

 principally farmers, assembled to witness it, and 

 expressed themselves highly satisfied with the re- 

 sult. At the Trappe, where it was shown by the 

 Inventor on the following Saturday, an equal de- 

 gree of ap]n'obation was evinced. It was after- 

 wards used on the farm of Mr Tench 7'ilghman, 

 where 180 acres of wheat, oats and barley, were 

 cut with it. Three mules of medium size worked 

 in it constantly, with a-t much ease as in a drag 

 harrow. They moved with equal facility in a walk 

 or a trot. A concise description of this simple 

 implement will show that it is adnjirably adapted 

 to the important purpose for which it was inven- 

 ted. Resting on two wheels which are perm.a- 

 nently attached to the machine, and impart the 

 motion to the whole, the main body of the ma- 

 chine is drawn by the horses along the outer 

 stage of the standing grain. As the horses travel 

 outside of the grain, it is neither knocked down 

 or tangled in the slightest degree. Behind the 

 wheels is a platform (sup{)orted by a roller or 

 "wheel) which projects beyond the side of the ma- 

 chine, 5 feet into the grain. On the front of the 

 edge projecting part of the platform is the cutter. 

 This is composed of 21 teeth resembling large 

 lancet blades, which are placed side by side, and 

 firmly rivited to a rod of iron. A lateral motion 

 is imparted to it, by a crank, causing it to vibrate 

 between two rows of iron spikes, which point 

 forward. As the machine advances, the grain is 

 cut and falls backwards on the platform, where it 

 collects in a jiile. A man is placed on the part of 

 the platform, directly behind the machine, and 

 with a rake of peculiar construction, pushes off 

 the grain in separate bunches, each bunch making 

 a sheaf. It may appear to some, that fhe grain 

 will accumulate too rapidly for this man to per- 

 form his duty. But upon considering the differ- 

 ence between the space occupied by the grain 

 when standing and when lying in a pile after it is 

 cut, it will be evident that the raker has arajjlo 

 time to push off the bunches even in the thickest 

 grain. In thin grain he has to wait until suffi- 

 cient has collected to form a sheaf. 



The machine driven around the grain which 

 be sovvn either on a smooth surface, or on 

 'dges. For the first round may I e cleared 

 *u;fu '■ '•adle ; but this is deemed unnecessary ; 

 foi- ♦! 'Of ^^h^n drjveu oyerj i3 left in au lo- 



clined position, and by cutting it in the opjiOs i 

 direction, as much of it is saved as with a cradle. 

 Fourteen acres in corn land*, were cut t)etween 

 10 A. M. and 7 1-2 p. m. The hands had never 

 worked witli the machine before, nor was the trial 

 a day's work. For owing to the shortness of the 

 straw, the machine was not allowed to cut when 

 passing over the ridges from one side of the ground 

 to the other, a-nd this time was consequently lost. 

 From the principle on which the cutting is per- 

 formed, a keen edge to the cutter, ia by no means 

 essential. The toughest weeds, an occasional corn 

 stalk, or a stick of the thickness of a man's little 

 finger^ have been frequently cut, without at all 

 affecting its operation ; it can be sharpened, how- 

 ever, in a few minutes with a file. The width of 

 the swath may be increased by having the cutter 

 made longer, and the same machine will cut a 

 stubble of several different heights. 



There is ample room to tnake the different parts 

 of any size, though the strength of every part has 

 been fully tested. The machine has been often 

 choked by oyster-shells getting into the cutter, in 

 attempting to cut too low a stubble. The motion 

 of the machinery being checked ; the main wheels 

 slide on the ground, the strain on every part being 

 equal to the power exerted by the horses. It 

 can be managed by any intelligent, careful person. 

 We deem it a simple, strong and effective machine 

 and take great pleasure in awarding unanimously, 

 the meritorious inventor of it, a handsome pair ol 

 silver cups. 



COwj 



Sagacity of thk HoRSE.r — The Pennsylvania 

 Sentinel relates the following anecdote of the 

 sagacity, and humanity shall we call it ? of the 

 horse. 



As the Germantown stage, drawn by four 

 liorses, was jjassing aloiig; Third-street, above 

 Willow, a small child endeavored lo cross the 

 street in advance of the leaders, apparently with- 

 out observing the dangerous proximity of the lat- 

 ter. One of the leading horses appeared to ap- 

 preciate the situation of the iiifant, and made 

 every effort to avoid coming in contact with it. 

 He swerved from the direct line as far as be 

 could, and endeavored to jtass it, but being brought 

 up by the rein, was forced against, and pros- 

 trated the child. The instant the latter fell, he 

 stopped, as if to allow it to escape ; but being 

 driven forward by the hinder horses aiid impetus 

 of the vehicle, he reared himself on his hind 

 legs, and with one bound cleared the body. In 

 doing this, either from design or accident, he 

 threw the child, with his hind foot, out of the 

 track, so that when the heavy carriage passed 

 on, it did not run over it, although it came within 

 a few inches of it. This may be instinct, but it 

 looks to u& marvellously like reason and feeling. 



