80 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and much thicker at the bottom, consequently more difficult to cut than 

 that of either of the other competitors, and would yield 3,300 pounds of 

 hay to the acre. Mr. Bigelow's man mowed a swath with a scythe, 

 twenty rods long and seven feet wide, allowing no time for sharpening 

 his scythe or rest, in ten minutes, equal to two hundred and thirty-one 

 Square feet the minute. The machine, allowing no time for turning, 

 cut a swath four and twelve one-hundredths feet Avide and twenty rods 

 long, equal to one thousand three hundred and fifty-nine and sixty 

 one-hundredths square feet the minute. 



" The last view of the committee Avas on the fourth day of August, 

 when they inspected the working of a machine owned by John P. 

 Adriance, of the city of "Worcester, and Avorked on the farm of Mr. D. 

 L. Emerson, in Auburn. This machine Avas Manny's patent, Avith a 

 cutter-bar four feet and seven inches long, draAvn by tAvo horses, 

 weighing 1,695 pounds, driA'en by Mr. AVilliam Emerson, at a speed, 

 Avhen cutting, of tAventy rods in seventy seconds, or three and tAventy- 

 one one-hundredths miles the hour. The half acre Avas tAventy rods 

 long and four rods Avide, the ground smooth and even ; produce, one 

 ton of hay to the acre. The half acre was cut in sixteen SAvaths, 

 averaging four and tAvelve one-hundredths feet each SAvath, in tAventy- 

 six minutes' time, or at a speed, including turning, of tAvo and thirty 

 one-hundi-edths miles the hour, cutting eight hundred and thirty- 

 seven and sixty-nine one-hundredths square feet a minute. This 

 machine cut, allowing no time for turning, a SAvath four and twelve 

 one-hundredths feet Avide and twenty-rods long in seventy seconds, 

 equal to one thousand one hundred and sixty-five and thirty one- 

 hundredths square feet in a minute. Mr. Emerson's horses Avere 

 lighter than those of any other competitor ; but they Avorked Avell, and 

 he managed them Avell, cutting his SAvath Avithin forty-six one-hun- 

 dredths of a foot of the Avhole length of his cutter-bar. 



" The five machines cut as follows, alloAving no time for rest or 

 turnings : — 



Mr. Barrett's cut in one minute, 1,554.30 square feet. 

 Mr. Hovey's " " " 1,270.40 " " 

 Mr. Davis's " " " 1,359.60 " " 

 Mr. Bigelow's " " " 1,359.60 " " 



Mr. Adriance's " " " 1,165.30 " " 



The five cut, in one minute, . . 6,709.20 " " 



Averaging 1,341.85 square feet the minute. 



" The four men cut in the same time, alloAving no time for rest or 

 sharpening scythes : — 



