408 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Dec. 
est. We considered this crop, from its nature, to be a severe trial 
to the machines, though the day being fine and the clover dry, were 
points much in their favor. The work made by each of them was 
highly satisfactory, and where thf barley stood up, in point of cutting 
everything which could be desired, and, even where partially laid, 
not much to he found fault with. Hussey’s cut the stubble lowest, 
and left it rather the more even of the two; but in more than one in¬ 
stance during onr inspection it clogged so as to require the machine 
to be stopped, in order to clear the knives, an accident likely, in our 
opinion, to have occurred more frequently, and to have presented a 
serious obstruction, had the crop been wet, or even dew damp. 
From this objection, McCormick’s appeared to be free, as far as 
our observation went; the serrated cutters always clearing them¬ 
selves, and its delivery was in this crop very superior, as the barley 
was laid out regularly by the one man on the macnine conveniently 
in small heaps, with the ears generally upward, while the two men. 
who were employed in Hussey’s to effect a lateral delivery, though 
apparently laboring more severely, could not deposit the barley so 
regularly, or in so good a form. The pace at which it was necessa¬ 
ry for the horses to walk, in order to secure the proper working of 
the machines, appeared to us a most material feature in their relative 
claims. The horses which drew Hussey’s machine, were driven by 
a man riding on the near horse, and were kept going at a fast walk, 
which we estimated at nearly four miles per hour—certainly at a 
speed far exceeding the ordinary walk of regular cart horses; and 
this speed appeared necessary to insure efficient working, a require¬ 
ment which must be very distressing to heavy horses. We find, in¬ 
deed, complaints to be prevalent as to this machine, that the work is 
too severe for a pair of horses for the whole day, which necessitates 
either more being applied, or the horses being changed, which of 
course increases the expense. McCormick’s, on the contrary, was 
driven by a man seated on the machine, at the ordinary pace of cart 
horses—say two and a half miles per hour, a rate at which a pair 
of horses might work a whole day, as at plow, and with as little dis¬ 
tress; for this machine appears not only to be lighter in itself, but to 
work with more ease to the horses than the other, being so balanced 
as to throw a very slight pressure upon the horses’ back, while the 
weight on the pole of Hussey’s is very considerable. We did not 
test particularly the quantity of work done by each machine in a 
given time; though in the accounts recorded by Mr. Valentine, of 
the performances, it did not appear that there was much difference 
in them in this respect, each cutting between five and six roods per 
hour, on the average. We consider, however, that if McCormick’s 
machine, which clears a foot wider space than the other, is the lighter 
and less distressing to work, it must cut the greatest quantity, mo¬ 
ving at that steady ordinary pace which we deem not only most desi¬ 
rable for the sake of the horses, but also for securing the continuous 
delivery of the sheaves with precision and regularity, and that any 
increase to be obtained by driving the horses beyond that speed would 
be dearly purchased We are therefore, of opinion that of the two 
machines thus tried, McCormick’s has the advantage in lightness of 
draught, security of cutting, and clearing itself under adverse cir¬ 
cumstances, and in the more convenient delivery of the sheaves. 
The report concludes by stating that both machines possess many 
merits, and “ are capable, even in their present state, of doing much 
service to the farmer, but that both are susceptible of very great im¬ 
provement.” A challenge has also been given and accepted, for a 
trial between Bell’s and McCormick’s machines. Nothing is more 
likely to produce improvement in this very valuable addition to our 
rural machinery, than the active competition which is in existence 
between the makers of the rival implements. 
[From the Sunderland Times of Sept. 18, 1852.] 
Reaping Machines. —Mr. McCormick has been in this neighbor¬ 
hood, during the past fortnight, awaiting the acceptance of his chal¬ 
lenge to all other machines to come and compete. No competitor, 
however, made its appearance. At Fulwell. at the end of last week, 
and at Washington on Wednesday, Mr. McCormick, consequently 
had the field to himself, and the trials were such as to afford addi¬ 
tional evidence of the justness of the conclusion come to by the 
judges at the recent Durham County Agricultural Show, as well as 
the stiil higher verdict of the jurors at the great Exhibition. Though 
however, Mr. Bell was not present on these occasions, he was ex¬ 
pected to come southward shortly, and unless the season were too 
late, or Mr. McCormick gone, a contest was anticipated between the 
American and his northern rival. We see it stated by the Scotsman , 
however, that Mr. Bell’s advisers have advised him not to accept the 
challenge of Mr. McCormick, so that Mr. McCormick is denied the 
opportunity in this neighborhood—probably the only part of the king 
dom in which any field for the purpose remains uncut—of exhibiting, 
on the same field, the superiority of his reaper over that of Mr. Bell. 
Home Embellishments. 
A dwelling house, no matter what the style, standing 
alone, either on hill or plain, apart from other objects, 
would hardly be an attractive sight. As a mere repre¬ 
sentation of a particular style of architecture, or as a 
model of imitation, it might excite our admiration, but 
it would not be an object on which the eye and the im¬ 
agination could repose with satisfaction. It would be 
incomplete unless accompanied by such associates as the 
eye is accustomed to embrace in the full gratification 
of the sensations to which that organ is the conductor. 
But assemble around that dwelling subordinate struc¬ 
tures, trees, and shrubbery properly disposed, and it 
becomes an object of exceeding interest and pleasure in 
the contemplation. It is, therefore, that the particular 
style or outward arrangement of the house is but a 
part of what should constitute the general effect, and such 
style is to be consulted only so far as it may in itself 
please the taste, and give benefit or utility in the purposes 
for which it is intended. Still, the architectural design 
should be in harmony with the features of the surround¬ 
ing scenery, and is thus important in completing the 
effect sought, and which cannot be accomplished with¬ 
out it. 
A farm with its buildings, or a simple country resi¬ 
dence with the grounds which enclose it, or a cottage 
with its door-yard and garden, should be finished sec¬ 
tions of the landscape of which it forms a part, or attrac¬ 
tive points within it; and of consequence, complete each 
within itself, and not dependent upon distant accessories 
to support it—an imperium in imperio, in classic phrase. 
A tower, a monument, a steeple, or the indistinct out¬ 
line of a distant town may form a striking feature in a 
pictorial design and the associations connected with them, 
or, the character in whieh they are contemplated may 
allow them to stand naked and unadorned by other 
objects, and still permit them to fill up in perfect har¬ 
mony the picture. This idea will illustrate the impor¬ 
tance of embellishment, not only in the substitution of 
trees as necessary appendages to a complete rural estab¬ 
lishment, but in the erection of all the buildings necessa¬ 
ry for occupation in any manner, in form and position, 
to give effect from any point of view in which the home¬ 
stead may be seen. General appearace should not be 
confined to one quarter alone, but the house and its 
surroundings on every side should show completeness 
in design and harmony in execution; and although hum¬ 
ble, and devoted to the meanest purposes, as a portion of 
these erections may be, yet the character of utility or 
necessity which they maintain, gives them an air of dig¬ 
nity, if not of grace. Thus, a house and out-buildings 
flanked with orchards, or a wood, on which they appa¬ 
rently fall back for support , fills the eye at once with not 
only a beautiful group, in themselves combined, but asso¬ 
ciate the idea of repose, of comfort, and abundance-in¬ 
dispensable requisites to a perfect farm residence. They 
also seem to connect the house and out-builddings with 
the fields beyond, which are of necessity naked of trees, 
and gradually spread the view abroad over the farm until 
it mingles with, or is lost in the general landscape. 
If it be necessary to build in good taste at all, it is 
quite as necessary that such good taste be kept in view 
throughout. A country dwelling should always be a 
conspicuous object in its full character and outline, from 
one or more prominent points of observation; conse¬ 
quently all plantations of trees or shrubbery in its im¬ 
mediate vicinity should be considered as aids to show off 
the house and its appendages, instead of becoming the 
principal objects of attraction in themselves. Their dis¬ 
position should be such as to create a perfect and agree¬ 
able whole, when seen in connection with the house it¬ 
self. They should also be so placed as to open the sur¬ 
rounding landscape to view in its most attractive features, 
from the various parts of the dwelling. Much in the 
effective disposition of trees around the dwelling will 
thus depend upon the character of the country seen from 
it, and which should control, to a great extent, their po¬ 
sition. A single tree, of grand and stately dimensions, 
will frequently give greater effect than the most studied 
plantations. A ledge of rock, in the clefts of which wild 
vines may nestle, or around which a mass of shrubbery 
may cluster, will add a charm to the dwelling which an 
elaborate cultivation would fail to bestow; and the most 
negligent apparel of nature in a thousand ways may 
give a character which we might strive in vain to accom¬ 
plish by our own invention. In the efforts to embellish 
our dwellings or grounds, the strong natural objects with 
which they are associated should be consulted, always 
keeping in view an expression of the chief character to 
which the whole is applied.— Allen's Rural Architecture. 
When work season comes, work in earnest; and 
when the play time comes, enjoy it. Have a time for 
every thing and every thing in its time. 
