36 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



power is required, and also in hauling our grain to the rail 

 road stations on our common country roads. 



Our agricultural machinery, in general, has won the high 

 est encomiums wherever exhibited, both in our own country 

 and Europe, as models of strength combined with elegance 

 and lightness. 



The first cast-iron plow, made in New Jersey in 1797, 

 has undergone various modifications, until now its mirror- 

 like surface of polished steel, and the admirable adaptation 

 of each part to the work required, would seem to leave but 

 little more to be desired. Yet, not satisfied still, the rnind 

 of man is now seeking for some mechanism that shall en 

 tirely supersede the plow in the preparation of the soil for 

 the perfect growth of the seed. 



Science has enabled the farmer to plow his ground, sow 

 his seed, cultivate his crops, harvest his grain, and make it 

 ready for the stock, thresh, winnow, and send it to the 

 market by the mere act of superintending machines, which 

 do the work like so many creatures of intelligence. He 

 mows his grass, makes it into hay, rakes it into windrows, 

 cocks or loads it directly on the wagon, stacks or puts it in 

 the barn, and even does the heavy work of feeding, entirely 

 by machinery. Water is pumped for his stock and carried 

 into his house by the agency of the wind or steam. 



He digs, drains, makes roads, subsoils, and trench- 

 plows his land; plants, hauls, and grinds his grain; pre 

 pares fodder for and feeds it to his stock ; pumps, saws, and 

 threshes ; spades and hoes ; loads and unloads ; stacks his 

 hay and straw, and does an infinity of other work besides, 

 by the power of automatic sinews of iron and steel. How ? 

 By the power of mind applied to the direction of material 

 forces ; by true knowledge of cause and effect ; in a word, by 

 science. And yet, if asked the question to-day, it is highly 



