Manys a day I myself spent topping grass. Topping grass encourages slow lazy grass to catch up in the growing stakes with its tall compatriots You had to spend a couple of years apprenticeship 'topping grass' before you graduated to 'cutting hay'. The latter required masterful weather foresight (don't cut hay if its going to rain ye gobberoo ye), a kindness for animals (get that damned dog outta this field while I'm cutting hay ye gobberoo ye), and a keen eye for a straight line (by jimminey, ye missed have the field so ye did).

Nowadays you'll see less and less of these machines. Oh how I miss the fun of sitting for hours in a tractor driving over bumpy ground with no cushions, and stopping after every 100 yards to clean wet sticky grass off the spears and untangle hay which has wrapped itself round the blade.

Two fine specimens from their right.