HANDLING HAY AND CORK FODDER. 125 



fied during the day. It is not economy to be sparing in 

 the use of oil ; it should be applied quite often, and but 

 little at a time. When much of it is applied at once, it 

 runs from the journals, and holds dust, increasing in- 

 stead of diminishing the wear. When stopping at noon, 

 throw some grass over the sickle and the driver journals, 

 if you cannot drive the machine into the shade. Do not 

 mow too close. It dulls and wears the sickle, and gains 

 nothing what is gained in hay is more than lost in the 

 aftermath. Drive slowly, but steadily, and thus get 

 the most done with least wear of team and machine. 

 Driving " in spurts " for half a day will wear the machine 

 more than steady driving for two days. Keep the edges 

 of the grass straight ; in other words, cut the full width 

 of the sickle, for otherwise you cannot do economical 

 work. Using a mower properly lengthens its life and in- 

 creases the amount of work it will do in a day. 



SWEEP FOR GATHERING HAY. 



The implement shown in figure 151 is made by having 

 two by four inch pieces of twelve feet long for teeth, 



Fig. 151. HAY SWEEP. 



held together by apiece of two by six inch stuff, sixteen, 

 feet long, with a bolt through each tooth; two fence strips 



