28 Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
Fig-. 20. — Plan of Towanda Eureka Moioer. 
diately behind the pole, with a spacious foot-board. The horses are yoked 
so wide apart, by means of a long neck-yoke, that whilst the near-horse 
travels close to the standing grass on the space cleared by the track-board, 
the off-horse walks in the standing grass outside the knife. This is a point of 
great importance ; had the knife followed the grass trodden down by the horses' 
feet, the cutting would be irregular, but as it meets the down-trodden grass 
on the return journey there is not any perceptible difference, and no work 
was more regular, although the cutting was for some reason a quarter of an 
inch higher than the ordinary machines. One great advantage of direct 
draft is that the machine can return along a parallel line and therefore meets 
the down-trodden grasp, and the operator can deal with a laid crop in the 
direction which secures the best result. For instance, it often happens that 
a heavy crop becomes laid in one particular direction : ordinary machines, 
cutting all round the field, must either go empty in one direction, or else follow 
the laid crop on one side, and inevitably make rough work ; for such cases, 
by no means unfrequent, the Eureka is peculiarly suitable, because the whole 
crop can be cut at right angles to the direction in which it is laid. Another 
minor advantage is that it clears the ground stiaight before it, facilitating later 
operations. The fact that the near-horse walks clear of the cut grass is a 
point that must not be lost sight of, especially when considered in reference 
to the peculiar manner in which the grass is left by the double track-board, 
viz., in a beautifully light, open swathe, very favourable for curing. In- 
deed, with wind and sun, no tedding is necessary, and the work of hay- 
making is materially lessened. I understand that three sizes of machines 
are made, the largest having an 8-foot knife. I think that, for general 
purposes, the medium size is best. Two ordinary farm-horses walked away 
with great ease, a fact that is proved by the excellent records on the dyna- 
mometer. The machine is strongly made, is very simple in construction, 
and I see no reason why it should not be durable. The action of the clearers 
