FARM IMPLEMENTS. 143 



the person in charge of the machine, since bnt one other ele- 

 ment, that of evenness of cnt, would enter into the question. 

 Close attention was therefore, in all cases, given to the general 

 appearance of the fields, especially to what is called '■'■pointing 

 out:' 



And about this, so great was the difference that, while the 

 closest scrutiny upon the land cut by one competitor would fail 

 to detect the line of junction between different swaths, upon 

 fields mowed by others the failure in this respect was so great 

 as to leave a long mane of partially clipped or entirely uncut 

 grass, betraying the lines of work as far as the fields could be 

 well seen. 



This want of skill was shown on the lands of almost all the 

 competitors. It was not confined to lands of rough surface, 

 broken by rocks, and obstructed by trees, but was most promi- 

 nent on the smoothest lands of some of the competitors. Arising 

 undoubtedly from the endeavor to "make time," it was seen 

 varying from the comb of an inch higher cut, to a mane of un- 

 dipped grass, varying from a line to many inches in width. 



Hence there is no doubt that there will be returns of extra- 

 ordinary large day's work, or, what is more probable, of large 

 surfaces cut over in very short periods. 



At the trials of skill to which the competitors were put, it 

 will have been noticed how great was the difference in time 

 occupied by the various individual drivers. This did not arise, 

 as might be suspected, from a difference in the burden of grass 

 standing upon the respective lots, for the heaviest grass was 

 upon the piece of land cut in the shortest time. 



Judged by the standard before accepted, the subjoined table 

 will exhibit, at a glance, the different degrees of merit in the 

 work done by the several competitors, being all who, in the 

 knowledge of the undersigned, have not withdrawn from the 

 competition. 



