6 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



merits in agricultural machines alone is something wonderful. Formerly the principal 

 farm implements consisted of a one and two-horse plow, a harrow, a few hoes, rakes, and 

 scythes of the crudest kind, a sickle, a reaping cradle, and a flail for threshing the grain. 

 The only power employed in the use of these rude implements was that of the horse, mule, 

 and ox, and the hand of the farmer ; the latter being the main reliance, except in propelling 

 the plow and harrow, and even here the holding and guiding of the plow often called for the 

 most severe physical exertion of all the farm labor. Compare these machines with those of 

 to-day, the plows of every conceivable pattern adapted to the various kinds and conditions 

 of soil ; sulky plows that will turn the furrow to any desired depth with but slight manipu 

 lation from the driver, who rides, except to hold the reins and guide the horses; the harrows 

 and clod-crushers of various devices and plans of operation, that pulverize the soil to ft 

 degree of perfection that was once never dreamed of ; the drills and planters that deposit the 

 seed and cover it with a uniformity that is truly astonishing ; and not only this, but in the 

 vast amount of labor accomplished in a given time, the driver .not being obliged to even walk 

 over the ground ; the rollers, the cultivators, and horse-hoes, the mowei s, tedders, horse- 

 rakes, forks, carriers, and stackers that facilitate the former laborious and slow process of 

 hay-making, not only enabling the farmer to secure his crop of grass when it is in the best 

 condition for cutting, and not oblige him to leave a portion until it is over-ripe, but also 

 rendering him less dependent upon the weather in securing this crop, as it can be harvested, 

 cured, and put under shelter in much less time than formerly. 



Thus we have ensilage cutters that dispose of the forage crop in a gTeen state, with con 

 siderable less labor and time than by the hay -making method ; the reapers and self-binders, 

 that reap and bind the grain as if by magic hands, one machine doing the work of many men 

 in a given time; the threshers and cleaners, that prepare the grain for market; the stalk- 

 cutters, corn-harvesters, huskers, and shellers. In the use of these implements, we have not 

 only the powers appropriated to the purpose in the olden time, but steam as a motive power in 

 the form of farm engines, that can be utilized in threshing, plowing, husking, grinding, and 

 various other kinds of farm work, one such machine often being made to perform the work 

 of over twenty horses at once, the agricultural implements alone of some well conducted farms 

 now often representing more money than the entire value of a good farm fifty years ago. 

 Hence, it will be seen that the application of science to agriculture has vastly increased the 

 productions of the country, and enabled the farmer to rise above the mere drudgery that 

 formerly characterized his calling. 



But these are not the only advantages emanating from scientific agriculture; the innu 

 merable experiments, investigations, and labors originating from this source, have resulted in 

 giving to the world improved varieties of all kinds of agricultural products, including grain, 

 fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc. ; also farm animals of such improved utility and beauty as to 

 be scarcely recognized as akin to their predecessors. 



Fifty or more years ago the farmers of the country were generally the hardest laboring 

 class that could be found, their lives being a constant round of severe toil, which left no time 

 for the employment of mind or hands with other business. But little attention was paid to 

 the improvement of farm stock a horse, cow, sheep, or pig being recognized merely as such 

 without regard to desirable points of preference in individual animals. Farmers, as a gen 

 eral rule, depended almost wholly upon the products of their farms for a living, raising nearly 

 all the supplies for their own tables, and also largely for their clothing, which was manu 

 factured from the raw material in their own homes. 



&quot;Wheat was more commonly cultivated than now, but not in sufficient quantities to supply 

 bread for the household, flour being rarely bought by the barrel. Rye flour and corn meal 

 were mostly used for making bread, that made from wheat flour being considered quite a 

 luxury, and in many sections was dignified with the name of &quot;cake,&quot; and used only on 

 extra occasions, such as when company was entertained. An instance illustrative of this fact 



