166 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



without fault in this. Our acquaintance with it, however, is 

 limited, and we would not positively claim for it so desirable 

 a quality. On the sixth point, Ketchum's is all that can be 

 wished. The eighth point is accomplished with Manny's 

 mower, by the use of the reel, and we know of no other way 

 in which it can be done. We presume it would be next to 

 impossible for any man to spread grass as evenly as this 

 machine. On the other hand, Manny's, by being made to 

 cut at any desired height, possesses peculiar advantages in 

 mowing over stubble grounds, that are growing up to weeds, 

 mossy and stony lands, &c. 



Thus it will be seen, that each machine has its own merits 

 and defects. Our object in speaking of them is not to make 

 invidious distinctions, but to stimulate to further improvement. 

 It is by no means desirable that all should be made by the same 

 pattern. Competition, besides being the life of business, may 

 almost be said to hold in her hands the guarantee of perfection. 

 Nothing has contributed more, as we believe, to the excellence 

 of our ploughs, than the rival manufactories at Boston and 

 Worcester ; and so close has the competition become, that he 

 must be a niggard in his commendations who hesitates to award 

 the merit of success to the conductors of either of those estab- 

 lishments. 



So let it be with mowers. Let each improve his own, and 

 each will receive his due share of patronage. But we venture 

 to say, our farmers will never accept of a machine that will not 

 cut all kinds of grass, and cut it close. If there is any thing 

 that the better class of them take a pride in, it is a well-mown 

 field ; and a machine that does not work among the lower joints 

 of the grass will hardly find favor with them. Neither do they 

 want one that requires an extra horse and hand to run to the 

 blacksmith's for repairs. Especially would we urge the impor- 

 tance of lessening, as much as possible, the draught. Though 

 great improvement has been made in this particular, there seems 

 no reason for supposing we have attained its limit. A pair of 

 horses now does the work of only five or six men, which shows 

 a great loss of power somewhere. If by any means this could 

 be saved, it would be an achievement Avorthy of the best efforts 

 of our mechanics, and would, probably, add more to the well 



