86 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Much observation leads to the belief that, at the rate of an 

 acre per hour, including all ordinary stops, a good pair of 

 horses could continue the work so as to cut, without undue 

 exertion, from ten to twelve acres a day. 



Many think it to be far more economical to use oxen than 

 horses on small farms, and hence most farmers in New England 

 prefer the former to the latter. It was, therefore, highly grati- 

 fying, in cases where the mowing machine was worked by oxen, 

 to find that they did as well as horses, while they did not appar- 

 ently suffer from the exertion, even in the hot weather of July. 

 This fact will make it possible for many to use this implement 

 who could not otherwise do so, and its advantages will thus be 

 brought within the reach of thousands who cannot afford to 

 use horses. Such is the situation of a large class of farmers 

 in New England, and we can hardly over-estimate the impor- 

 tance to them of the fact above stated. On larger estates it is 

 not improbable that the labor of horses might be found to be 

 more economical. 



There are some general suggestions for beginners in the use 

 of the mowing machine, most of which are alluded to in the 

 letters of practical farmers already quoted, but which may be 

 briefly summed up as follows : — 



First. See that the knives are sharp and in good order. 

 No man would think of beginning his day's work of mowing 

 without having first ground his scythe. A dull scythe requires 

 too great an expenditure- of physical force, and the mower 

 works to great disadvantage. The same is true of the machine. 

 The labor for the team is quite sufficient even under the most 

 favorable circumstances, without increasing it by neglect in 

 this particular. 



Second. See that every nut and bolt is perfectly tight ; the 

 wear of the machine will be less, and it will be less likely to get 

 out of order. 



Third. Keep all the bearings well oiled with pure sperm 

 oil ; some of them will need an application of it every ten or 

 fifteen minutes. 



Fourth. Take the field lengthwise and keep straight forward 

 at a regular, steady pace, without too great haste, which would 

 fret and worry the team. An acre per hour is fast enough 



