HEDGE CUTTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1681, 10 July 1879, Page 3

HEDGE CUTTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

A public trial of Hornsby’s patent hedge cutting and trimming machine was made yesterday at Fendaltown, in the presence of about 200 persons. The machine is mounted on two road wheels of large diameter, to secure light draught. Both wheels are employed in driving the working parts, them motion being communicated by an arrangement of gearing to one of a pair of knives, similar to the knives of mowers and reapers, but larger and of greater strength. These knives are carried by a sliding bar projected from the side of the machine. This bar with the cutting apparatus is so arranged as to be capable of ready adjustment to suit different circumstances, the entire machine, when set for work, being under the complete control of the man in charge, who rides upon a seat conveniently placed for making all necessary adjustments. The cutting apparatus can be raised to any required height to suit high or low hedges, or the level of the ground on which the machine may be travelling. It can

also bs a. a t an y required angle, to cut more or lesj eh tbe hedge, aq£.to reduce its height or alter its ». ba P° a » may be desired. Both eides of the fcev’g o ma 7 be cufc from tb « same side, so that the machine may be kept on that side which is mwsft convenient. _ The side of the hedge neatest i& machine is usually cut first, and then the bar lifted over the hedge and the arygler of’ i. n( d'nation reversed, so as to cut the other si<x. The top may afterwards l be trimmed l if required (though this is not usually necessary), e, v setting the cutting bar straight oust from thv 1 machine, and the height the hedge is required to he left. The cutting bar being constructed oh the same principle as the Paragon mower, swinging round the crank spindle, will work equally well on either side or at the top, and at any angle of inclination. The machine wee worked by two horses but it was rather hard work for a pair of horses, owing in a great measure to the driver being new to the work, and looking at the hedge instead of h» horses. The hedges operated upon were of two and three years’ growth. When driven steadily the machine worked with great smoothness and regularity. Where there is a thick growth the out gorse will have to be removed out from the fence to enable the horses to walk close enough so that the arm may reach over to cat the opposite side of the fence. The makers of the machine claim for it that it can be instantly withdrawn, and set to work again in the case of posts occurring in the fence. This desirable feature was not made apparent, which however may have arisen from the inexperience of the man in charge. The quantity cut in the day must of course bo regulated by the density or otherwise of the hedge. No doubt a distance of five or even more miles may be got over in a day when the growth is only one year. The machine was pronounced a success by all those present, when properly handled, and on fences free from posts and other obstructions