AGRICULTURAL BIPLEMENTS. 423 



merly, were huge, misshapen things, of very clumsy construction, 

 and resembling the fork of " Old Nick," or the trident of Nep- 

 tune in the picture books. Now, a fork, whether for pitching 

 hay or manure, is as light and pliable as a willow stem, yet 

 strong and not easily broken. Formerly, all kinds of grain 

 were cut with the sickle and cradle. Now, the reaping- 

 machine does the work in a twentieth part of the time. It was 

 threshed out with the flail, with a great deal of hard, dirty labor, 

 and winnowed with a hand fan, an implement resembling a coal- 

 box with one of its sides knocked out. Now, the threshing- 

 machine and winuowing-mill prepare the grain with much ease 

 and nicety for the granary, with much less cost and lalior. By 

 means of better scythes, and the horse-rake, at least one-half 

 the expense of making hay is saved. The cultivator and seed- 

 planter save a vast amount of labor formerly done with the 

 hoe. 



The American farmer has great reason to be proud of the 

 inventive genius of his countrymen. Ours is comparatively a 

 new country, and want, which is always a prominent feature in 

 a new country, sets genius to work. American ingenuity has 

 not only equalled in its developments the mother country, but 

 outstripped her, for our wants, and consequently our efforts 

 have been greater. The peculiarity of American genius is its 

 highly inventive character. Nor is it exactly like that of any 

 other country. It picks their locks ; it invents and fashions a 

 vessel that outsails, on their own waters, before their own eyes, 

 all their boats, brigs, schooners and yachts, and leaves them 

 tugging behind, like a school of tired porpoises. They look 

 amazed, and are ready to burst with vexation to see Jonathan 

 behave so. We have shown to the world the most ingenious 

 machine ever made in any country for cutting grain. "We 

 could cut over some of the small kingdoms of Europe with that 

 machine, about as soon as any of the inhabitants could reap 

 half a dozen acres with a sickle. "We make the best ploughs 

 and scythes ; India rubber goods, and the sweetest toned musi- 

 cal instruments. "We invent the queerest machinery for saving 

 manual labor, and contrive to have the best wives and the 

 prettiest daughters found in any country. 



David Rice, Chairman. 



