SECRETARY'S REPORT. 75 



firmly on to the forward bars, at an angle of about ten degrees of ele- 

 vation. A seat may be added of spring steel or wood, to suit. Fasten 

 also, a sharp edge of iron on the cross-bar, close to the roller behind, 

 to clear off the mud, also a place to deposit anything which may lie 

 on the ground, needing to be removed to the outside of the piece, such 

 as sticks, knots, or even stone, if not too plenty. All but the covering 

 plank should be painted. A roller thus constructed may be taken 

 apart by taking out the keys, and packed away separately ; and if thus 

 well taken care of, may last a generation at least, and a boy twelve 

 years old will roll one acre per hour witi|ease and safety, — cost about 

 twelve dollars. 



Most grain here is mowed, some cradled, a little reaped in the old 

 way. There is but one mowing machine in town, and that has been used 

 but a part of the present season — not long enough to speak with de- 

 cided confidence in regard to its general success. Of course, it cannot 

 be used on rough ground ; but rough ground should be made smooth 

 before it is mowed. I think it quite likely the time will come when 

 mowing will be mostly done by the machine. If necessary to this end, 

 improvements will be made. In this age, it is only necessary, in order 

 to secure any invention, that there shall be a demand for it, and the 

 supply rushes in at once. 



The old revolving horse rake is more in use here than any other ; 

 though I am sure that Delano's rake is by far the best thing yet in use 

 for raking hay. It works almost equally well on rough and smooth 

 ground, saves one hand, and is easy of transportation. I have raked 

 with one of them thirteen acres in an afternoon, and what is more to 

 the point, it was well done. Grain may be well raked with them ; 

 if any dirt is gathered, a slight shake before upsetting the grain 

 will leave it quite clean. Most grain here is threshed by the machine, 

 though many think it the most expensive way." 



Tillage Lands. 



The rewards of aoTicultnre are not so much to be estimated 

 by the extent of surface cultivated, as by the thoroughness of 

 the cultivation. Wherever high farming is pursued, and by 

 high farming is meant simply good farming, not only are larger 

 crops obtained, but they are both more surely, and more cheap- 

 ly obtained. It is comparatively seldom that a crop adapted 

 to the soil and climate, properly fed, and well tilled, does not 

 succeed ; while slovenly and stingy husbandry often results in 

 failure. Thus to find an increase of land under tillage is no 



