FARM IMPLEMENTS. 163 



accidents that I have met with in the use of the machine were 

 caused by its not being properly put together, or by loose stones 

 left on the ground. 



Marblehead, September 22, 1855. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



Report of the Committee. 



Science and art have been constantly producing wonderful 

 changes in all departments of industry. The agriculturist, once 

 slow to comprehend the importance or necessity of any change 

 in form or substance of the farming tools used by his father, 

 now realizes that changes may be made which are decidedly 

 beneficial. We need but to go back thirty or forty years, to 

 draw a striking comparison with the times in which we live, and 

 articles in daily use. Many farming tools of former times are 

 becoming obsolete, and are seen only occasionally in a corner 

 of some old garret, having been superseded by " labor-saving 

 machines." 



Of the implements used for agricultural purposes, nearly all 

 have passed through such a transformation, in the march of 

 improvement, that some of them could hardly claim the rela- 

 tionship of "third cousin" to their predecessors of the same 

 name. Others again, "new and rare" things, which our fath- 

 ers dreamed not of, are now considered almost indispensable to 

 every farmer. 



Among the many good results growing out of the formation 

 of agricultural societies, is the rapid improvement in farming 

 tools. In no department of industry are improvements progress- 

 ing so rapidly as in agriculture. The fact is noted in the 

 Patent Office Reports, " that the greatest number of patents 

 applied for and issued, of any one class, are connected with agri- 

 culture, and the fewest are those to be used in war," — it is said 

 the proportion is nearly as ten to one. This probably in part 

 arises from the fact that improvements can be made ; that agri- 

 cultural societies stimulate such improvements; and partly, 

 because labor-saving tools are necessary, owing to the scarcity of 

 farm laborers and the high price of labor. It is hoped another 

 good may be the result of these exhibitions of skill and indus- 



