162 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



In addition to the above, I have mown about seven acres 

 with one of Russell's machines, which, in consequence of its 

 liability to get out of repair, I had to throw aside, it having 

 broken six or seven times in the operation. It appeared to have 

 too quick a motion — iron and steel not being able to stand the 

 racket. 



The action of the knives I think very well of, but the opera- 

 tion of the two wheels is unfavorable, as they are placed, unless 

 the ground is perfectly level ; for the elevation or depression of 

 either wheel throws the knife-bar out of level, in consequence of 

 which the grass is cut too high or the knives are in the ground. 



The Manny machine that I offer to your notice I cannot 

 speak too highly of. 



I g,m satisfied that an acre of grass can be cut in half an 

 hour, or that fifteen acres can be cut per day, without injury 

 to the team ; for its ease of draft enables the horses to perform 

 a quarter more work in the same time (in my opinion) than 

 any other machine that I have seen. 



The reason of its greater ease of draft is, that the wheel at 

 the end of the knife-bar is so placed that the draft removes the 

 friction ; that is, as the horses move, there is a constant lift on 

 the knife-bar, which removes the friction from off the ground ; 

 in other words, the machine goes on wheels instead of dragging 

 on the ground. 



Another great advantage in this machine is the ease of mov- 

 ing it from field to field, or from one farm to another ; it being 

 thrown out of gear, and the knife-bar raised by means of the 

 brake, fifteen or eighteen inches from the ground in less than a 

 minute, and put in working order in the same time. 



It also adapts itself to uneven surfaces with the greatest facili- 

 ty, having cut the grass in the most perfect manner, where Rus- 

 sell's machine would not work at all. 



From my experience the past season, I am satisfied that there 

 is an actual gain in quantity in the use of the machine to the 

 amount of $1 per acre ; or, in other words, it is better to pay 

 $1 per acre for mowing with the machine, than to have it done 

 by ordinary mowers (sucli as we can get) for nothing. 



With regard to its liability to breakage, I do not consider it 

 much greater than that of the scythe and snath; the only 



