118 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



that when this hitherto universal implement began to be 

 supplanted, and the new era in grass-cutting began. 



The report contained the following commentary : " The 

 trustees have now done all that lies in their power to in- 

 troduce the mowing machine into use, as a great labor- 

 saving implement. They hope not only that it will be 

 adopted, but that it will lead the way to the use of others, 

 equally labor-saving and quite as essential to the prosper- 

 ity of agriculture in Massachusetts.'' 



In 1857 George Williams Lyman was chosen president 

 of the society in place of John C. Gray, resigned. The 

 trustees appropriated $200 for the importation from Eng- 

 land of two hay-making machines, known as " tedders." 

 On arrival, the next year, one was placed with President 

 Lyman, at his farm in Waltham, and one with George B. 

 Loring, a trustee, at his farm in Salem. Of their work- 

 ing each made a report, which was warmly commenda- 

 tory. Both the reports were published in one of the 

 pamphlet issues of the society, and in more permanent 

 form in the volume of transactions, and no doubt contrib- 

 uted to the general adoption of the apparatus, which fol- 

 lowed. The apparatus did not go into general use, how- 

 ever, in its original form ; for the new machines made here 

 were much lighter in weight and less cumbrous in opera- 

 ation. 



The herd of Jersey cattle imported in 1851 was kept 

 as the property of the society at the farm of Thomas 

 Motley, Jr., in West Roxbury, until 1856. The bull 

 calves were all raised and sold according to the arrange- 

 ment made with him, as his property. The purchasers 

 were breeders of reputation in different parts of the 

 State. In 1856 the cows and heifers were exhibited 

 by the society at the annual Worcester county cattle 

 show, and were there sold by auction. The central situa- 

 tion in the State of the show-ground, and the convenience 

 of access by railroad, induced a large attendance of farm- 



