Recent Improvements in Haymahincj. 
55 
have been reduced to two or three instead of six. As a West 
Country farmer says, " High prices have been o;iven in this 
neighbourhood for mowing during the past year or two, and the 
mowing-machine was introduced most opportunely, to prevent 
their being still higher." We cannot assert, as many have said, 
that the hay appears to be easier " made " after the mowing- 
machine than after the scythe ; neither can we see that lying as 
it docs so much more over the ground is an advantage in a wet 
season ; but there is certainly so much closer and more level a 
cut with a well-made machine that the extra bulk of hay will, in 
some cases, pay for wear and tear and working expenses. 
With respect to the preference to be given to different makers' 
implements, we are not called on here to offer an opinion. When 
we refer to that of Burgess and Key we simply cite our own 
experience. Wood's, however, has very justly been a general 
favourite ; Samuelson's is also taking well in various localities. 
There is room enough for all ; and we hope that all may get a 
fair trial ; neither being thrown by the hedgeside, when the 
slightest hitch occurs, nor yet sent to the village smithy for 
repairs. 
Mr. Pertwee, manager for Sir J. T. Tyrell, Bart., Boreham, 
Chelmsford, who has been very successful with the use of Wood's 
mower, has kindly supplied the following statement : — " Time is 
everything in the matter ; and the man who makes, carries, and 
secures his hay in good order in the shortest time is the most 
successful manager. We set Wood's two-horse mower to work, 
which is a first-rate little implement, cutting upon an average 
from six to eight acres per day. The first day's work we allow 
to remain untouched, as left by the mower in small cuts or 
swathes, unless the weather should be very forcing ; for I do not 
think it wise to move hay about too much. Next day, we use 
the shaker — Howard's, or some other — with this improvement, 
that we introduce, instead of a pair of shafts, a pole and an extra 
wheel, which takes all the weight off the horses' back, putting 
thereto a pair of light or old carriage horses. A man is mounted 
on the box, and drives away famously. The grass so shaken 
out is very soon made into hay, which we then rake into rows 
with the horse-rake. After this, we run up every row of hay so 
collected by Sir. J. Tyrell's cocking-rake (invented by himself), 
which draws together very large heaps, 8 feet high. Two or 
three men can follow with forks, and secure a large quantity in 
the afternoon, or on the appearance of a storm, in quick time." 
The use of the mowing-machine very fortunately demands 
some amount of additional care in the preparation of the ground 
for its action. The chain-harrow, roller, and clod-crusher are all 
