at the Dcrhii 3fccttiif/, 1843. 
483 
that he considers its performance fully equal to the work of 20 
haymakers. There is no liarvesting-machine yet introduced which 
economises labour to such an extent, or tends to save a crop so 
surely, as the mechanical haymakei', and it is very desirable that 
the manufacturers should use every exertion to remedy such de- 
fects as may abridge the utility of so valuable an implement. 
Horse- Rahcs. — Several horse hay-rakes were exhibited, but 
the Judges adhere to the opinion formerly expressed, that none 
of them excel the patent rake of Mr. Joseph C. Grant, of Stam- 
ford, rewarded at Liverpool and Bristol, which was again pro- 
duced by him, with improvements tending to secure its more per- 
fect action, durability, and convenient management. 
Horse-Emjincs. — The horse-engine, or horse-?/;077f, as this 
machine is more commonly but incorrectly named, has become 
— where steam is not used — indispensable as a prime mover 
of barn-machinery, more particularly as applied to threshing- 
machines and chaff-cutters. For these and other purposes it is 
extensively and economically used, whether fixed or as travelling 
from farm to farm on hire. The Judges have to notice the 
production of two novelties in this class by Messrs. Ransome. 
The first was an arrangement of the travelling-engine, which 
obviates the necessity of unloading it from the carriage or re- 
moving the wheels. By these means, too, the main shaft, which 
communicates the power to the object, is kept above the horses' 
backs, so that they pass under instead of having to step over 
the shaft, as on the common plan. The second had a more 
important purpose in view ; viz., the establishing a kind of inter- 
mediate mechanism, planted between the engine and the objects 
to be set in motion, from which (without disturbing the engine 
or any machine applied to it) any other machine may be driven, 
and at any part of the barn which may be most convenient for 
its use. It would occupy too much space to attempt to de- 
scribe this arrangement; nor could it be done justice to without 
drawings. Suffice it to say that the purpose was accomplished in 
a simple and satisfactory manner. This contrivance for diverging 
power in various directions will be found useful where it is de- 
sirable to put in motion several machines at the same time by the 
same horse-engine, provided no one of them requires a greater 
force than one horse : thus, the chaff-cutter, the turnip -cutter, 
and the domestic flour-mill, or a pump, &c., may be driven toge- 
ther or separately. There is certainly no part of the farmer's 
establishment which more commonly needs a thorough revision 
than that devoted to his barn-operations. It is too often formed 
without plan ; is too often devoid of systematic arrangement ; and 
seems rather to resemble an incongruous mixture of things of no 
value, than of mechanism, in the disposition of which space and 
