40 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The haj-cutter is another machine of modern invention . 

 Wherever a hirgc stock of cattle is kept, especially where a 

 considerable number of horses are wintered, it is often thought 

 to be good economy to feed out more or less of the coarser 

 feeding substances of the farm, as straw, corn-stover, the 

 poorer qualities of hay, etc., by mixing them, cither with the 

 better qualities of hay or with some sort of concentrated 

 food, like meal. The hay-cutter is adjustable so as to cut at 

 different lengths, according to the wants of the stock for 

 which it is designed. The point is to cut short and with per- 

 fect regularity, and when this quality is attained in a machine, 

 uniting strength, simplicity, durability, and safety to the op- 

 erator, it is estimated that there is a gain of about 25 per 

 cent, in the economy of feeding, in the increase of thrift se- 

 cured, and the positive advantage to be derived in the ma- 

 nure. There is a dirterence of opinion upon this point, to be 

 sure, but notwithstanding that, the use of some form of the 

 hay and straw cutter has become nearly universal, and is gen- 

 erally regarded as quite indispensable upon most well con- 

 ducted farms. IMachines for this purpose are made to be 

 worked l)y hand upon small farms, and by horse or steam- 

 power upon larger ones, where they are capable of reducing 

 to chaff a ton and a half of hay or straw per hour. 



Root and vegetable cutters have been brought to equal 

 perfection, and where large stocks of sheep and cattle are 

 kept, and vegetables are raised for winter feeding, as they are 

 at the present time upon all well managed farms, the root- 

 cutter is indispensable. By its use the farmer is now enabled 

 to cut potatoes and other vegetables fine enough to feed to 

 sheep, at the rate of a bushel in less than thirty seconds, by 

 simple hand-power. 



Nothing need be said of the innumerable variety of churns, 

 hand cider-mills, the contrivances for gaining power in lift- 

 ing stones and pulling stumps, ditchin.g-machines, rollers, 

 and a thousand other labor-saving machines which mechanical 

 ingenuity has added to the stock of farm-tools, till the value 

 of farming implements and machinery was reported, by the 

 census of 1870, to be at least $336,878,429. The same was 

 reported, in 1860, at $246,118,141, and in 1850 at only 

 $151,587,638, a gain in twenty years of $185,290,791. 



