204 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



JANUART 4. Iji37 



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The following article is from a newspaper entitled 

 " Eastern Shore Whig and People's Advocate," pub- 

 lished at Easton, Maryland. We have been requested 

 to re-publish it, which we do with much pleasure, on 

 tlife ground of the respectability of the gentlemen wiio 

 recommended it, though we have never seen the imple- 

 ments ' 



HUSSEY'S GRAIST CUTTER. 



Report of the Board of Trustees of the Mary- 

 land Agricultural Society for the Eastern Shore, 

 on the Machine for harvesting small grain. In- 

 vented by Mr Obed Hussey, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 



The favorable account of the operation of this 

 implement in several of the Western States, in- 

 duced the Board to invite Mr Hussey to bring it 

 to Maryland, and submit it to their inspection. It 

 was accordinjriy exhibited in Oxford, Talbot Co. 

 on the first of July, in presence of the Board and 

 a considerable number of other gentlemen. Its 

 performance may be justly denominated perfect, as 

 it cuts every S|iear of grain, collects it in bunches 

 of the proper size for sheaves, and lays it straight 

 and even for the binders. On the 12th of July, a 

 public exhibition was r.iade at Easton, under the 

 direction of the Board ; several hundred persons 

 principally farmers, assembled to witness it, and 

 expressed themselves highly satisfied with the re- 

 sult. At the Trappe, where it was shown by the 

 Inventor (On the following Saturday, an equal de- 

 gree of approbation was evinced. It was after- 

 wards used on the farm of Mr 'i'ench Tilghman, 

 where 180 acres of wheat, oats and barley, were 

 cut with it. Three mules of medium size worked 

 in it constantly, with a^ much ease as in a drag 

 harrow. They moved with equal facility in a walk 

 or a trot. A concise description of this simple 

 implement will show that it is admirably adapted 

 to the important purpose for which it was inven- 

 ted. Resting on two wheels which are perma- 

 nently attached to the machine, and impart the 

 motion to the whole, the main body of the ma- 

 chine is drawn by the liorses along the outer 

 stage of the standing grain. As the horses travel 

 outside of the grain, it is neither knocked down 

 or tangled in the slightest degree. Behind the 

 wheels is a platform ( sup[)orted by a roller or 

 wheel) which projects beyond the side of the ma- 

 chine, 5 feet into the grain. On the front of the 

 edge projecting part of the platform is the cutter. 

 This is composed of 21 teeth resembling large 

 lancet blades, which are placed side by side, and 

 firmly rivited to a rod of iron. A lateral motion 

 is imparted to it, by a crank, causing it to vibrate 

 between two rows of iron spikes, which point 

 forward. As the machine advances, the grain is 

 cut and falls backwards on the platform, where it 

 collects in a i)ile. A man is placed on the part of 

 the platform, directly behind the machine, and 

 with a rake of peculiar construction, pushes off 

 the grain in separate bunches, each bunch making 

 a sheaf. It may appear to some, that the grain 

 will accumulate too rapidly for this man to per- 

 form his duty. But upon considering the ditier- 

 ence between the space occupied by the grain 

 when standing and when lying iu a pile after it is 

 cut, it will be evident that the raker has ample 

 time to push otf the bunches even in the thickest 

 grain. In thin grain he has to wait until suffi- 

 cient has collected to form a sheaf. 



The machine driven around the grain which 



may be sown either on a smooth surface, or on 

 corn ridges. For the first round ni.iy be cleared 

 with a cradle ; but tUis is deemed unnecessary ; 

 for the grain, when driven over, is left in an in- 

 clined position, and by cutting it in the opposite 

 direction, as much of it is saved as with a cradle. 

 Fourteen acres in corn lands, were cut between 

 10 A. M. and 7 1-2 r. ji. The hairls had never 

 worked with llic uiarhii;;' befort', nor was the trial 

 a day's work. For owing to the sliortncss of the 

 straw, the matlilne was not allowed to cut when 

 passing over the ridges froiri one side of tlie ground 

 to the other, and this time was consequently lost. 

 From the principle on which the cutting is per- 

 formed, a keen edge to the cutter, is by no means 

 essential. The toughest weeds, an occasional corn 

 stalk, or a stick of the thickness of a man's little 

 finger, have been frequently cut, without at all 

 affecting its operation ; it can be sharpened, how- 

 ever, in a few minutes with a file. The width of 

 the swath may be increased by having the cutter 

 made longer, and the same machine will cut a 

 stubble of several different heights. 



There is ample room to make the different parts 

 of any size, tliough the strength of every part has 

 been fully tested. The machine has been often 

 choke<l by oyster-shells getting into tiie cutter, in 

 attempting to cut too low a stubble. The motion 

 of the machinery being checked ; the main wheels 

 slide on the ground, the strain on every part being 

 equal to the power exerted by the horses. It 

 can be managed by any intelligent, careful person. 

 We deem it a simple, strong and effective machine 

 and take great pleasure in awarding unanimously, 

 the meritorious iuventor of it, a handsome pair of 

 silver cups. 



Improved Silk Machine. — We are gratified 

 to learn that tlie writer of the following letter has 

 succeeded in perfecting his manufacture! of train, 

 organize and sewing silk. During the short visit 

 he made lis last summer, describeil the machine 

 he had invented an>i used, and the improvements 

 of which it was susceptible, and left no doubt on 

 our mind of its being a valuable invention, both 

 for the silk grower and manufacturer. Not liav- 

 iug seen it, however, we cannot speak of its mer- 

 its with that confidence which we might after a 

 careful examination, but judging from the inclosed 

 specimen of sewing silk, and the well kiiowrt in- 

 veii»:ve genius of .Air Botsford, we do not hesitate 

 to recommenil to our silk friends to give it a trial. 

 We hope the several County Societies will furnish 

 themselves with one of these machines as soon as 

 they can be procured ; for if it proves to he a val- 

 uable invention, they can afford Mr B. much aid 

 in introducing it to general use, a duty whic|i we 

 shall owe him, and we trust be ready to dis- 

 charge. 



RoxBURr, Ct. Oct. 15, 1836. 



Mr. Comstock — Sir : Since I saw you I have 

 made considerable improvements in my machine 

 for manufacturing siik. It now takes it from the 

 cocoon and prepares it for the loom, or converts 

 it into sewing siik, in the eatest possible man- 

 ner. As a proof, I enclose you one skein with 

 this communication, for your ins|)ection. My pa- 

 tent right I expect is secure, and I shall be able 

 to supply orders for the machinery next season. 

 Its great superiority ever all other machineiy, 

 known to me, consists in this : it places the siik 

 from the cocoon directly on the sftool, and from 

 the spool is converted into sewings, or prepared 



f(U- the loom, with great perfection, facility and 

 despatch. It will come out under the name of 

 the Silk Reeling, Doubling and Spinning Ma- 

 chine. In regard to its being simple and impor- 

 tant to silk growers, I will pledge myself to take 

 any person of common ingenuity, and instruct 

 him in one day, so that with the directions for us- 

 ing the machine, and a little of his own experi- 

 ence, he will be .ible, in a short time, to make 

 sowing sill; tliat shall equal the best Italian. 



Another important qualification is, it prevents 

 all waste. I presume that one hundred persons 

 employed iu a factory would not waste one pound 

 in as many weeks. It is calculated for any num- 

 ber of s[)indles, from the small hand macliine of 

 six, to the most extensive manufacturing e.«tablish- 

 inent. . Isaac G. Botsford. 



Silk Culturisl.'] 



Brief Hixts for Wi.-vter. — Cattle and all do- 

 mestic animals should commence the winter in 

 good condition. 



Do not undertake to winter more cattle than 

 you have abundant means of providing for. 



Let every farmer aim to have next spring, in- 

 stead of thin, bony, slab-sided, shaggy cattle, fine, 

 smooth, round and healthy ones, awd to this end 

 let him spare no pains; and 



1st, let the cattle be well fed. 



2d, let them be fed regularly. 



3d, let them be properly sheltered from the pelt- 

 ing storm. 



Proper food and regularity of feeding will sav : 

 the flesh on the animal's back, and shelter will 

 save the fodder. 



All domestic animals in considerable numbers 

 should be divided into parcels and separated from 

 each other in order that the weaker may not suf- 

 fer from the (#>mination of the stronger, nor the 

 diseased from the vigorous. 



Farmers who have raised rrot crops, (and all 

 good farmers have doubtless done so,) shof.ld cut 

 them up and mix them with drier food, as meal, 

 cho|i[)ed hay, straw or cornstalks, and feed them 

 to cattle and sheep. 



Cow-houses and cattle stables, shoidd be kept 

 very clean and well littered. To allow animals 

 to lie down in the filih which is sometimes suf- 

 fered to collect in stables, is perfectly insufl^ra- 

 ble. By using plenty of straw or litter, the con- 

 sequent increase in the quantity of manure, will 

 much more than repay the supposed waste of 

 straw. 



All stables should be properly ventilated. 



Mixing food is generallv better than feedins 

 cattle on one substance alone. 



Cattle will generally eat straw with as much 

 readiness as hay if it is salted copiously, which 

 may be done by sprinkling brine over it. 



A great saving is made by cutting not only 

 straw and cornstalks, but hay also. 



Sheep, as well as all other domestic animals, 

 should have a constant supply of good water dur- 

 ing winter. They should also be properly shel- 

 tered from the storm, for the great point in the se- 

 cret of keeping them in good condition, is to keep 

 them comfortable. — Genesee Far. 



At Onedia River, Lower Falls, Vermont, a quan- 

 tity of Lime has been discovered. A large quan- 

 tity of this lime has been used on the Kennebec 

 Dam. It hardens under water to the solidity of 

 stone. 



