cladding's iiokse-fckk. 



175 



the hay tilts the fork, discharging its load. The horse is 

 then backed up, ready for another fork load, the only labor 

 of the workman being to drive the fork into the hay and 

 keep the cord steady. An important advantage is gained, 

 besides the saving of time ; for the man on the load, being 

 relieved from the severe labor of pitching, is fresh and 

 vigorous for throwing on another load in the field. 



The length of the handle made it difficult to use this fork 

 under low roofs, and an improvement was made by Glad- 

 ding, by which the head of the rake only was tilted, 

 leaving the handle in its horizontal position. A hinge- 

 joint is placed at the connection of the head and handle, 

 so that, at any 

 moment, by a jerk 

 on the cord w^hich 

 passes up a bore 

 in the handle, the 

 fork is dropped, as 

 showm in fig. 194, 

 and its load depos- 

 ited. This may be 

 done instantane- 

 ously, at the mo- 

 ment it happens to 

 be s^vung to the most favorable spot. Its weight causes the 

 head to fly back of its own accord, and resume its former 

 position, ready for another forkful. The rope suspending 

 the fork should be fastened to the highest portion of one 

 of the rafters, over the mow, and a smooth board should 

 be placed, vertically, against the fiice of the mow, for the 

 hay to slide on as it ascends. By attaching this rope in 

 front of, and within a window, the hay is carried with 

 ease into the window, and thus lofls over sheds, carriage- 

 houses, etc., where the old horse-fork could not be used, 

 are filled by the use of Gladdinrfs improvement. This is 

 one of the best forks, adapted to aU kinds of pitching, 



Gladding's Ilay-forJc. 



