108 [Assembly 



to pa?s each other in close contact on the same plane, the action 

 ol the blade thereiore is like that of shears. This position of the 

 knife cannot probably maintain a long continued perfect action j 

 for as soon as the knives from any canse lose their sharp edge, 

 the tougher grasses will be drawn between the plates, and by 

 clogging arrest the progress of the machine. 



The excellence discernable in the best Mowing Machines now 

 exhibited, leaves no doubt as to their utility. It is equally clear 

 that the work performed is far better than can be done by manual 

 labor with a scythe. 



The farmer will, however, need the occasional use &t' the 

 scythe ; for neatrx^s and thorough husbandry will claim the 

 scythe to tiiTii fence corners, to vemove baulks occasioned by 

 careless driving, as well as herbage which may escape the ma- 

 chine when passing stumps or rocks. 



The economy derived from their use may be understood from 

 the folic wing computation : 



An able man can cut with a scythe an area of one acre and a 

 quarter each day, on a meadow covered with grass equal to two 

 tons per acre ; of heavv clover he will cut not to exceed one acre 

 per day ; a few men can accomplish more than above stated, but 

 on an average these quantities are found to be a full day's work. 



The rate of wages varies in different places and counties, yet a 



fair average rate of compensation in central New-York for men 

 engaged in the hay harvest is seventy-five cents per day, or eighty 

 cents per acre by the Job. with their board and lodging. 



« 



Assuming the cost of cutting and making hay at one dollar per 

 day for each man employed, we may approximate closely to the 

 advaatages of mowing machines. Thus 



One acre of meadow f^rass vieldlns: two tons will cost 



for cutting and making the hay | 2 00 



A field of ten acres will tlieref(;re cost / 20 00 



A mowing machine will cut an acre per hour, worked by one 

 man with two horses ; a field of ten acres may be conveniently 



