620 [Assembly 



the western portion of our own State. There they are coming 

 into common use among our thrifty and economical brethren. 

 But that they would be equally profitable among us is not quite 

 clear. In much of the grain-growing portion of this part of the 

 State the face of the country is rough and hilly; the tillage of 

 numberless fields is marred both by stones and stuuips; the shape 

 of fields is often irregular, and the amount of grain sown compa- 

 ratively so limited that for one I entertain doubts of the general 

 utility of reaping macliines among us, at least for the present. 

 These remarks, however, do not apply to the machine as a mower. 

 The meadow ground used for the trial at Geneva, was somewhat 

 uneven of surface ; the grass thin, short and shrivelled, and for 

 mowing in the common way, would have been regarded among 

 us as far from first rate ; and 3'et the work was fairly done. The 

 cutting apparatus is from 4 J to 6 feet long, and perfectly straight; 

 it is therefore clear that it cannot adapt itself to the inequalities 

 of an uneven surface. But when meadow lands are laid .down as 

 they should be, in order to fit them properly for the common 

 scythe, there is nothing to hinder a machine drawn by one span 

 of horses, and driven by a boy, from cutting and spreading in the 

 best manner ten acres of the stoutest grass in a day, and follow- 

 ing it up day after day. They are strongly made, and do not 

 seem liable to get out of order on good ground ; and with most 

 of them the mower is converted into a reaper, by attaching a plat- 

 form for the cut grain to fall on — an operation requiring only a 

 few minutes. Their price was from $105 to $135, and I am glad 

 to announce that Mr. Wood, of Hoosick Falls, has commenced 

 the manufacture of Manny's reaper and mower, for the next har- 

 vest. I saw Manny's machine at work, and considered it to be 

 among the very best on trial. But a far better recommendation of 

 it is, it was very generally popular with the great concourse of prac- 

 tical westerii men v/ho had come together to witness that trial ; and 

 by the late report of the committee of the State Societj^, under 

 w^hose inspection the trial took place, I observe that to Manny 

 was awarded the first premium for a reaper and mower combined. 

 Ketchum's mower is already in use among us, and I understand 

 gives satisfaction wherever it has been proved, and with another 

 summer will come the opportunity for placing Manny's in compe- 

 tition, where every man can see and judge for himself. 



