FARM IMPLEMENTS. 291 



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The trustees have now done all that lies in their power to 

 introduce the mowing machine into use as a great labor-saving 

 implement. They hope not only that it will be adopted, but 

 that it will lead the way to the use of others equally labor-saving 

 and quite as essential to the prosperity of agriculture in Massa- 

 chusetts. Nor does there seem to be any reason why almost 

 all the labor of the hay harvest, which is at present the most 

 trying and expensive in its nature of any of our farming opera- 

 tions, should not be done by machinery worked by horse-power. 

 The mowing machine, the hay-maker, — such as is now in use in 

 England, — and the horserake, with the aid of two men and 

 three horses, are quite competent to perform the work now 

 required of twelve or fifteen men, allowing only one man per 

 day to the acre, for cutting and making hay. 



The farmers have also a duty to fulfil. It it only by their 

 purchasing labor-saving implements, and using them whenever 

 it is in their power to do so, that they can be perfected. In this 

 way encouragement is given to invention and mechanical skill. 

 Agricultural associations, with their addresses and their pre- 

 miums, are valuable only as the pioneers in the march of 

 improvement. They can direct public attention to objects, but 

 they cannot accomplish much unless a right spirit exists in the 

 breast of every tiller of the soil. Their labors are of little avail 

 unless their recommendations and exhortations are met by the 

 ready zeal of all. The great cause of agricultural improvement 

 will always falter and move with feeble steps, when those who 

 have it in hand are out-numbered by the listless and apathetic. 

 The obstacles in the way of success to a Massachusetts farmer, 

 are serious enough under the most favorable circumstances, but 

 they are perfectly discouraging unless they can be met by the 

 united will and firm purpose of all to overcome them. Careful 

 investigation, and the experience gained even by common 

 observation of what is passing in other lands, must convince 

 every reflecting person, that agriculture as a pursuit must lan- 

 guish, unless more strenuous efforts are made to increase our 

 mechanical skill in the cultivation of the soil ; and it is from 

 this strong conviction, that the trustees thus earnestly speak 

 upon the subject. 



EDW. LYMAN, President. 



Richard S. Fay, Rec'g' Sec'ry. 



