STR Hoards the knife, while U counter- balances the ratch-whcel of the up- per roller. Near the fulcrum of this hearer is fastened a chain, re- presented by the dotted line c ; the upper end of which is conne<3:ed with a roller, having at each ex- tremity a small iron bar, that is joined to the end of the upper- spiked roller ; so that the straw is uniformly pressed between the two cylinders. L, is a winch, serving to turn the machine. M, M, M, M, the frame of the implement- Fig. 1, represents the two rollers above alluded to, in describing the box G. With a view to employ tliis straw-cutter to the best advantage, its inventor proposes to place a se- cond box at the end of the first : it may be made of any length, and suspended by a line and counter- weight J by means of which its end is brought down level, while it is filling with straw : then drawn up, so as to give the second box a de- clivity j and thus the straw is more expeditiously brought forward. The chief improvement of this additional apparatus is, the facility with which straw may be cut, while considera- ble time is saved j as it will not become necessary to stop at inter- vals, in older to supply the ma- chine,
February, 1801, Mr. Wil-
liam Lester, of Hardingstone, Northampton, obtained a privilege for his ingenious contrivance of cutting straw, hay, tobacco, &c. by an engine, to which we have alluded under the articleHAY; but, not having been able to procure a satisfaftory account of his patent, we shall only remark, that the best proof of its merit, is the general STR ^s^ adoption, which we understand it has experienced in Nortliampton and its vicinity. The latest invention for this use- ful purpose, is the Straw-cutter employed by Count deRiEscH; of which we have been induced to give an engraved sketch ; on ac- count of the extensive advantages it promises to afford to the proprie- tors of cattle, by diminishing hu- man labour. Description of Count IIiesch'^ newly-invented Straw-cutter. Fig. 1, represents a front view of the machine. A, the balance, being fastened at the upper end of the cylinder Q, is direded and put in motion by one person : with this view, theic is a pivot, P, applied to that cylin- der (which pivot is explained in Fig. 10, and likewise appears ia Fig. 2, atK, in a socket, L), which is managed by a handle in the piece of timber, at the lower part of the balance l), b. B, B, are the levers which, by the aftion of the balance A, are alternately raised, so that the knives C, C, cut the supply of straw in d, d, subsequent to the motion of the arms Z, X; which are conne6ted with such levers and knives. C, C, tlie knives. D, D, the legs of the boxes :— - d, d, represent the projecting straw submitted to the operation. E, E, the upper parts of the legs before alluded to, terminating, and secured, at the top ; in order that the boxes may not be moved or dislodged by the motion of the en- gine. At f,f, the two places are vi- sible, through which the moveable arms. Fig. 2, M, M, are inserted. F, F, the beams, which are se- cured
