92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the most perfect shape, as if placed by hand, for the binders. 

 It finished its piece most gloriously." 



The contest was finally so narrowed down, that it was con- 

 fined to three machines, all American. One of these now gave 

 out, leaving but two to strive for the prize. 



The machines were afterwards converted from reapers into 

 mowers, one making the change in one minute, the other in 

 twenty. Both performed their task to the astonishment and 

 satisfaction of a large concourse of spectators, and the jurors 

 themselves could not restrain their enthusiasm, but cried out 

 " good, good, well done ! " while the people hurrahed for the 

 American reaper, crying out, " that's the machine, that's the 

 machine ! " "All the laurels," says the report of a French 

 journal, " we are free to confess, have been gloriously won by 

 Americans, and this achievement cannot be looked upon with 

 indifference, as it but plainly foreshadows the ultimate destiny 

 of the New World ! " 



With respect to the materials used in the manufacture of 

 reapers and mowers, particularly the latter, there is a diflFerence 

 of opinion as to whether the frame should be of wood or of 

 iron. The weight of opinion seems to be, that for all practical 

 purposes, wood is the better material. The iron cutter-bar has 

 been tried to some extent, but not sufficiently to lead to its 

 adoption in all cases. But that the materials of which these 

 implements are constructed should be far better than they have 

 generally been, there can be no question. Many of the bolts in 

 some of the machines have been made, apparently, of a poor 

 quality of iron, while they should, perhaps, have been made of 

 steel, and in the most perfect manner. A large proportion of 

 the accidents which occurred during the work of the past 

 season, arose from the breaking of bolts and fingers. These, 

 though apparently trifles, cause not a little annoyance and 

 interruption. Accidents will happen, it is true, even with the 

 common scythe ; but those referred to, are, for the most part, 

 such as a more careful construction would prevent. 



The manufacturer, who, for the sake of a trifling saving, 

 slights his work on a machine newly introduced, so as thereby 

 to retard its introduction, and create a want of confidence in 

 the machine itself, must indeed be blind to his own interest, 

 while he both strikes a blow at his reputation, ajid what is of 



