IMPLEMENTS 205 



but on it being shown that 10 acres could be cut with scythes at a 

 cost of 5/5 per acre as against 10 acres cut with the sickle at a cost 

 of 8/9 per acre, the former soon superseded the latter. The length 

 of the Westmorland scythe or " ley " was reckoned in quarter yards, 

 6, 7 or 8 as the case might be, but usually 7 or 5 ft. 3 inches ; the 

 depth of grass or " bat " cut would be about 27 inches, and the width 

 or " breed " 3 to 3J yards. Later a more common size for the scythes 

 was 6 quarters or 54 inches. " Yan an twenty yerds forret at twenty 

 bats, an' three yerds wide," was " varra fair considerin," according 

 to an old Reagill labourer. Geo. Brownrigg, junr., of Troutbeck, cut 

 2 acres of grass in 8 hours 55 minutes in 1861 for a wager which he 

 won. Good mowers in 1836 received 12/- to 15/- per week with their 

 victuals. 



Williamsons, of Stainton, afterwards of Kendal, were advertising 

 thrashing machines, corn crushers, chaff cutters, oil cake breakers, 

 turnip cutters, iron cheese presses, and barrel churns in 1854 — machines 

 which had become essential with the great improvements that had 

 taken place during the first half of the century. Their prices in i860 

 were : 2 horse thrashing machines £33, chaff cutters £2 los. to £7, 

 corn crushers £4 los. to £10, turnip sheers £1 los. to £4 los., of their 

 own manufacture. 



A two-horse mowing machine, belonging to R. H. Fell, of Trout- 

 beck Bridge, was first used in a field of R. Logan of Low Wood on 

 June 15th, 1861, when 22 acres were cut in 18 hours. In the same 

 year Admiral ElUott, agent for the Appleby Castle Estates, bought 

 one at the Royal Show at Leeds for use on the home farm, one acre 

 per hour being very well cut with it. At first it was customary for 

 the machine owners to go about from farm to farm cutting grass from 

 morning till night. The price for a " mower " for natural grass was 

 £20. Soon after this time W. and A. Fell became noted for their single- 

 horse mowing machines, which thej' manufactured at Troutbeck Bridge. 



M'Cormick's American reaping machine was tried at Boustead's 

 farm, Hackthorpe Hall, near Lowther, on September 20th, 1851. 

 The day being dry it acted well, but the driver would not cut down 

 hill with it. Up hill it cut very well, it was drawn by two strong 

 horses, which were twice changed in four hours, which time it took to 

 cut a little over two statute acres. 



