300 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



by each of the implements used. Mr. Berry made no return at 

 all, and so far as the committee saw, performed nothing worthy 

 of commendation with his machine. 



The committee, anxious that exact justice should be done the 

 several competitors, witnessed the operations of the implements, 

 at such times and places as best suited the convenience of the 

 applicants. It was made a condition precedent, that fifty acres, 

 at least, should be cut during the season. The particulars of 

 the cutting will be found in the statements hereunto appended. 



The committee have no hesitation in saying that the work 

 done by Mr. Little, on the farm of Mr. Newell j in West New- 

 bury, was the most satisfactory they witnessed. Here one acre 

 of grass, yielding one ton and a half of hay, was cut in forty 

 minutes, and so evenly cut, that when the grass was cleared off 

 the ground, it was not possible to discover in what direction the 

 machine had moved, when standing only a few rods distant. 

 To be sure, the land was in fine order for the experiment, as is 

 every thing else about the Colonel's extended farm of more than 

 two hundred acres, of as fine land as any in the county. 



Upon a full view of all that they saw and learned on this 

 subject, they are unanimous in the opinion that the work done 

 by Mr. Little is entitled to preference ; and they accordingly 

 award to him the premium of fifty dollars. 



The only funds at the disposal of the committee, were those 

 given by Mr. Fay, with the express limitation, that " no award 

 will be made for any agricultural implement which is not of the 

 best workmanship, and of such a character as to commend it to 

 the farmers of the county, by its superiority over implements 

 now in use to accomplish the same purpose." 



In behalf of the Committee, 



J. W. Proctor. 



November 17, 1856. 



