140 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The fields of Mr. Porter were larger and of more even sur- 

 face than was the case generally. 



The next visit was to Mr. 11. W. Jones, of Dover, who had 

 mowed about eighty acres. The land mowed by Mr. Jones had 

 been, for the most part, in detached pieces of small size, upon 

 different farms ; generally the grass was light, and tlie surface 

 smooth. The work had been well done. 



Upon one piece of land, large sods, pared from the projecting 

 knolls, lay scattered about; yet, notwithstanding the obstruction 

 caused by the great unevenness of surface, the field showed 

 better tlian could have been anticipated. 



Mr. Jones was also put to a trial of his skill in mowing. Half 

 an acre of land four by twenty rods was selected from a larger 

 piece. The surface was level and smooth, and one part covered 

 with a light yield of redtop, and the other portion ^Tith a very 

 short and thick coat of fine, limber, natural grass. The mowing 

 was beautifully done in twenty-three and three-fourths minutes. 

 Mr. Jones' horses weighed 1,950 pounds, and his machine cut a 

 swath of four feet and eight inches. 



The next examination was of the work done by J. L. Picker- 

 ing, upon the farm of the Hon. Josiah Quincy, in Quincy. 

 Tlie absence of dividing fences upon this farm had enabled Mr. 

 Pickering to lay his work out in lands presenting a peculiarly 

 attractive appearance. Mr. Pickering had finished his mowing 

 of English grass, having cut over some one hundred acres. 



The surface of this farm was level, or very slightly undulat- 

 ing, — beautifully smooth, and encumbered with but one stone 

 which had obstructed the machine. 



Except for the one almost universal fault, a want of pointing 

 out, this whole farm would have presented the appearance of 

 one extensive, smooth-shaven lawn. 



A promise was obtained from Mr. Pickering, that he would 

 make trial of his machine upon the marsh connected with the 

 farm, and report tlie result of his expariment. 



Upon the 14th of August, in company with two others of 

 your committee, a visit was made to the farm of Mr. G. W. 

 Lyman, of Waltham. 



Mr. Lyman had cut about seventy acres of land. The land 

 mowed was level and smooth, and free from obstructions of any 

 kind. The burden of grass had been heavy. Upon a portion 



