FARM IMPLEMENTS. 293 



The ground had, in all cases, been selected by the competi- 

 tors themselves, or by some one in their behalf. Tlie character 

 of the crop, and the condition of the surface varied in difierent 

 localities. Generally favorable to the successful operation of a 

 machine, some lots were much more so than others. In several 

 instances, horses and driver were perfectly familiar with the 

 working of the particular machine which they used, and both 

 understood exactly what to do to show it to the best advantage. 

 Others were worked at great disadvantage in this respect, and 

 in one case neither horses nor driver had ever seen a mowing 

 machine before. 



In order, therefore, to give the machines a fair test on equal 

 footing, as well for the competitors as for our own satisfaction, 

 we concluded to operate them ourselves in the same field, under 

 similar circumstances and in similar grass, with the same pair 

 of horses, and a driver who had no interest in any machine. 

 This seemed to us the readiest and most feasible mode of testing 

 the machines, and in fact the only mode which would enable us 

 to arrive at a decision at all satisfactory, and for which we could 

 give a sufficient reason. 



For this purpose, three lots of grass, differing in quantity, 

 quality and situation, were obtained on the farm of Mr. Thomas 

 J. Field, in Northfield, a driver procured who was entirely 

 unacquainted with mowing machines, and five of the competi- 

 tors notified to have their machines at Mr. Field's farm on the 

 morning of the 29th of July. In the trial, the owners of the 

 several machines were directed to give the driver just such 

 instructions as they saw fit in relation to the management of 

 their machines. Our only instruction to him was, to drive them 

 all as nearly as possible at the same rate of speed. 



E. Danforth & Co. were not notified, because, in our opinion, 

 there is an objection to their machine, apparent on inspection, 

 which must prevent its general use in New England. It has 

 two sets of cutters or knives, worked by a double crank in 

 opposite directions, the edges of the blades of the under knife 

 being serrated, and in their operation cutting very like shears. 

 It has no fingers and of course no finger bar, and is probably 

 as little liable to clog as any other machine. In many parts of 

 the West, where it is manufactured, and where a mower may 

 be used a whole season without once touching a stone, it 



