IMl'ROVFD HAY FORK. 



141 



how often it is that a little over-exertion incapacitates 

 one for useful labor the remaiuder of the season! As 

 an illustration of our views on this subject, we here- 

 with present present our readers with a cut descrip- 

 tive of an improved hay fork, which we copy from 

 the .■linrrican Farmer. A cut of a somewhat simi- 

 lar instrument has been given in a former vohime of 

 this journal; but with the improvement of the sliding 

 catch made by Mr. Stabler, we do not know how a 

 more efficient instrument can be desiied. 



"Editor American Farmer: — In compliance with 

 a request in the last number of the Farmer, I annex 

 a diagram and description of the hay fork. We have 

 had it in use several years, and, as now improved in 



IMPROVED HAY FORK. 



the mode of discharging the hay, I consider it not 

 only a labor-saving, but also a time-saving machnie. 



" As originally made (for the ])lan of which I was 

 indebted to a friend in New Jereey) the rope was 

 fa.stened to the upper end of the handle; and although 

 the hay was raised equally well, it was found tedious 

 and laborious to work the trip cord; and very diffi- 

 cult, if not impracticable, to discharge the hay when 

 and where desired on the mow. In this way, its 

 operation was not at all satisfactory. 



'•By attaching the rope to the handle, six or eight 

 inches from the head piece, instead of the upper end, 

 and passing it along the handle, under the trigger, at 



this point, a slight jerk of the trip cord, held by the 

 man on t!ie wagon, instantly changes the fulcrum — of 

 course the position of the fork — and the hay falls. 

 The trip cord also serves to pull back the fork to the 

 wagou. 



" I am thus particular in describing both fixtures, 

 as many inquiries have been made, and perhaps by 

 some who use the original plan. A mere trifle in 

 cost will add the improvement, and, as I think, nearly 

 double its value. 



" The ' tackle' is attached to the peak of the raft- 

 ers, and directly over the center of the haymow; the 

 fall rope passes under and near the rafter, to a guide 

 pulley fastened to the upper end of the door post, 

 down by the side of the post to within a foot of the 

 floor, and through another guide pulley; to this end 

 of the rope is attached a swingle-tree, or hook, as may 

 be most convenient in working a horse, oryoiie of oxen. 

 " If properly managed, the fork will readily 

 raise from four to six hundred weight of hay at 

 a time (wliile a hand fork is moving the tenth 

 part of it, perhaps) ; and when high enough, 

 the horse stops. A hand or two on the mow, 

 with forks, sway it backwards and forwards, to 

 give an impulse in the desired direction, when 

 the trip cord, by the strength of a finger, throws 

 it instantly in a compact layer, as taken from 

 the wagon. Considerably more hay can thus 

 be mowed in a given space, with comparatively 

 little manual labor, fewer hands, and in a third 

 or fourth of the time. Very respectfully, 



" Kdward Stabler. 



"Head of tough scantling 3 J by 4 inches, 3 

 feet 3 inches long, with bands at ends. 



"Handle 3| by 4 inches, 3 feet long, inserted 

 at right angles, and braced with 3 iron plates J 

 by IJ inches. 



"Steel prongs I inches square at shoulder, 

 set angularly in the head, and tapsred to the 

 point, 22 inches long clear of head, with screws 

 and nuts at baclv end. 



"As the handle does not raise vertically, the 

 prongs should curve upwards considerably, so 

 as to resist the hay. 



" The trigger is very simple — an iron pin | 

 inch diameter, bent at right angles, one end 

 driven into the handle, projecting an inch, and 

 ranging down the handle about 2J inches. A 

 curved iron strap with an eye, and confined at 

 the oppo.^iie side by a small staple, passes over 

 the ro])e. uiiil the utlier end bent paraflel with 

 the pin; a small ring attached to the trip cord 

 slips over both; the tension of the rope while 

 hoisting, efl'ectually fastens it, until the cord 

 pulls off the ring. 



The independent horse-iake, by means of which a 

 lad of twelve years, or one unable to do a stout la- 

 borer's task, may rake up a dozen acres in a day, will 

 pay for itself for neighborhood use in one season; — 

 as also the revolving horse-rake, and the mowing ma- 

 chine, or reaper. True, these improved implements 

 cost money; but where one is unable to buy for him- 

 self, let him unite with a neighbor or neighbors, and 

 thus mutually contribute to each other's success. 



