TRIAL OF HORNSCY'S HEDGE CUTTER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3563, 12 October 1880, Page 2

TRIAL OF HORNSCY'S HEDGE CUTTER.

Yesterday afternoon a trial of Hornsby's hedge cutter was made by Messrs. Webster and McKellar, at Westown, on the farm of Mr. R. Iloncyficld. A number of farmers were present to witness the trial, including Messrs. J. Elliot, Cutrleld, Wareham, Newman, George, J. C. Davies, and Billing. A larger attendance no doubt would have been present had the weather been more favorable ; yet we think that considering the importance of the trial, more interesi. might have been manifested in the proceedings. After the machine had been properly adjusted a start was made on a furze hedge, but the horses being unused to the work, some little delay ensued until they had received a little training. A fair start, was at last made, and the machine worked admirably, cutting the hedge with astonishing rapidity. Things went on smoothly until one of the horses got close to the furze, and commenced " jibbing." The '"leggings" were put on the horse, aud the machine went away again, the horsed going at a half trot down the hill. No further cheek to the progress was received until the corner of the paddock was readied, when the horses again pulled up, but a vigorous application of the whip had the desired effect, and the machine agaia moved off at a rapid pace, cutting down everything before it. About a quarter of a mile of hedge was cut in this manner, the machine cutting first the inside of the hedge, then the outside, and finished with the top. No breakages of any sort happened, and the machine worked smoothly throughout. At the close of the trial the gentlemen present expressed great satisfaction at the capabilities of the machine, aud approved generally of the work which ha I been done. The hedge-cutter is without doubt one of the best labour-saving machines that have yet been invented, 011I3* two men and a team of horses being required to work it. The amount of work which it is capable of executing in one day is from 8 to 10 miles, according to the nature of the ground. Yesterday the ground was very broken, and consequently it was more difficult to trim the edge evenly than on level ground. A more severe test, could hardly have been given, aud yet the machine worked most satisfactorily. We understand that Messrs. Webster and McKellar will keftp the m-ichine here for sale for a month, and if not disposed of in that time it will be senb to Hawera.