1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



497 



STODDARD'S SELF-OPERATHfO- HOBSE-RAKB AWT) COCKER. 



We have already spoken of this rake, and in 

 terms as unqualified as we know how to use. We 

 spoke of it, not from hearing of its merits, but 

 from an actual use of it on all kinds of ground — 

 smooth upland, stony land, and hassocky-mead- 

 ows ; on heavy, light, short, and long grasses, 

 and could not fail of coming to the conclusion 

 that it entirely supercedes every other horse-rake 

 that we have used. This is strong language, we 

 know, but it is precisely what we believe, and it 

 would give us pleasure to be able to speak in this 

 ■way more frequently of the merits of implements 

 which we use. 



Any person, boy or girl, or old man, that can 

 drive a horse, can rake and cock with perfect ease, 

 as the power applied by the touch of the toe to 

 operate it does not exceed two pounds. 



Description. — 1. The superior advantage of this 

 Horse-rake and Cocker consists chiefly in entire- 

 ly transferring to the horse the usual labor of 



holding the rake down while gathering its burden 

 of grass, and tilting it up to leave the same, and 

 also in tumbling the windrows into heaps by 

 horse power, thus reducing this branch of manual 

 labor to the mere touch of the toe to a pedal. 

 Both hands are left at liberty to manage the horse, 

 by this device. 



2. The Rake can be thrown up while hacking, 

 as well as when moving forward. 



3. The Rake conforms to the uneven surface of 

 the ground, independently of the wheels. 



4. The Rake being placed in front of the 

 wheels, three advantages are secured : first, the 

 lateral or side jerking of the horse is diminished 

 in proportion as the wheels are nlaced nearer to- 

 gether ; second, the grass is gathered before the 

 wheels press it on to the ground, which is partic- 

 ularly desirable where it is wet ; third, the driver 

 can see whether the grass is being raked clean, 

 without looking back of him. 



