FARM IMPLEMENTS. 155 



gers, tliey succeeded always in cutting the grass. I grant that 

 the land upon which I used the machine was a severe trial to 

 it ; but I conceive that it is to be made perfect through just 

 such trials. 



The breaking of the pin which holds the connecting rod to 

 the knife-bar was a source of considerable annoyance to the 

 driver, and ought to be remedied. After breaking tliree or 

 four, I succeeded very well with steel pins. 



In my record I have not included the time occupied in re- 

 pairs, as the accidents have not interfered with the amount of 

 labor we wished to accomplish with tlie machine. 



Even in a season whose irregularity of weather has prevented 

 my using the machine as much as I could have wished, I have 

 found a means of saving a great amount of labor. Seven men 

 have been employed on the farm, where we have usually had 

 twelve or more, in the haying season ; and during a portion of 

 the wet weather they have been employed with the scythe, for 

 the want of other work. 



I would call your attention to the working of the machine in 

 salt grass, with oxen. It worked admirably. It moved easily 

 over the marsh, the oxen were borne with perfect safety, their 

 speed was sufficient, and the amount of grass secured was much 

 greater than that cut by the scythe on the same extent of sur- 

 face. I think a machine might be constructed with a wheel 

 adapted to our softest marshes, to be drawn by one horse or by 

 oxen, which would save an immense amount of labor, where so 

 much laljor is expended upon so small a crop as our marshes 

 usually yield. 



Salem, September 10, 1855. 



