The Massachusetts spy., 1821-07-11
From the .4naericaa Farmler.l
HAY MAKING.

The great valuc Of HORSE RAKE, vith
directions for making and using 1t.
SIR-As have received much information
by the perusal of the American Farmer, ought
freely to give any that know would be useful
to farmers. | will, therefore, describe the
hay rake that has been in use near the south
branch OF the Potomack for twenty years
We think it truly labour-saying machine.
Ihe head OF it is made of strong white oak
scantling, three and half inches by four and
hall, and ten feet long; for it must have
weight and strength. The teeth eof strong
wood, and put through the head with an inch
and an half auger, distant about nine inches
from centre to centre, about eighteen inches
long below the head, and go so far through as
to admit pin above the head, following a
hall inch anger to keep them up to a half inch
shoulder, which is on the back part of the
teeth, where they enter the head, and which
is intended to give the teeth strength at the
spot where it is most needed. as they seldom
break at any other place. The teeth are then
shaved Off thin before and behind, leaving suf-
hclent substance in the middle: they are made
true to line on the front edge. and of an
equal length. We then put two shafts in the
other square of the head, something like cart
shafts; but straight poles will do as we'll.
They are put through the head in mortice
one inch by four, and go through the head SO
far as to admit an inch pin behind the head
for the convenience of taking the shafts out.
when we wish to put the rake in a cart to
move from one meadow to another, or when
we want to stow it away after our moving is
done. The shafts are of sufficient length to
let the rake drag about three feet behind the
horse, which gives room enough for the hay to
collect in. They are MADE fast to the hames
by pin, which is put through near to the end
to put rope or chain round,
We have two sets of handles. one about
eighteen inches long, put in with five quarter
auger, and something like plough handles.
Tor the raker to press the teeth to the sod, as
the rake inclines to rise when full of hay the
others, two short pins, put in between the
long handles, and low in the head When the
raker comes to his winrow, he lets 60 the long
handles, and takes hold of the short pins. to
lift up his rake, and drop the load at its place
the long handles stand too high for this pur-
pose. The shafts being made fast to the hors-
es, gives great ease in lifting the rake. We
use but one horse in it, We rake across the
swarths, and make the winrows wide or close
as the crop of hay is light or heavy. If your
horse walks lively, one rake will winrow as
fast as four or five men can put in cock.
do not know how much ground it would go
over in day, but | believe it would rake
twenty acres with ease. We frequently have
man with mandrake, to follow in case of
stumps, or in fence corners, TO rake the locks.
which are missed, to the nearest winrow. In
putting in the shafts, we make the mortices
through the head in direction that will give
the points of the teeth little inclination for
ward, but not too much, as the hay would not
then drop readily enough at the winrow, for
the horse must not stop when the rake is lifted.
we have an expeditions way of drawing the
hay into the cock with horse and rope. or
poles; which saves much trouble in securing
1T, and which will describe in my next letter
to you: Very respectfully,
ABEL SEYMOUR.
j.. s. Skinner, Esq.