584 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



per acre ; and this has been without any repairs or trouble with the machine. It would have re- 

 qaired eight good cradlers to have cut my wheat in the time cut by the Reaper ; and in addi- 



tion to the cutting, the wheat was completely 

 raked from the Reaper into gavels ready for 

 bindinsr. 



In addition to the saving of grain and labor 

 liy your Reaper, it is worthy of remark that a 

 very important consideration with the farmer 

 is the cutting of liis wheat rapidly and con- 

 veniently, when in a proper state for cutting, 

 without being dependent upon hired labor, and 

 thereby avoiding a very heavy loss from cut- 

 ting either too early or too late. From these 

 statements every farmer can make his own 

 calculation as to the value of your Reaper. 

 For my own part I consider it, to the West- 

 ern countr3', the most important invention of 

 the age, and that it will greatly increase the 

 product of the country, not being able without 

 it to reap so much as can be sowed. 



Very respectfully, H. E. TOWNER. 



P.S. The foregoing 200 acre completes my 

 harvest of winter wheat, and I am now cutting 

 my spring crop. H. E. T. 



We take pleasure in announcing to our 

 readers that Mr. McCormick has made such 

 improvements in his Reaper as are found 

 to greatly facilitate its operation, especially in 

 the work of raking the cut grain from the plat- 

 form, and that he is now engaged in manufac- 

 turing a large number of the machines at Cin- 

 cinnati, for the supply of the South-western 

 country. He assures us also that the inmost 

 attention will be paid to the character of the 

 workmanship in constructing the machines, 

 so that no fault shall hereafter exist on that 

 score. 



From what we have seen of the operation 

 of this machine, and the high testimonials 

 from those who have used it extensively, 

 we are confident that it will do first-rate 

 work in good hands; and it will be seen from 

 the advertisement in this paper that the terms 

 i sale oHTer the fullest possible guaranty t& 

 iiii-chasers. The need of machines for reap- 

 ing grain was greatly felt by the farmers of 

 Ohio last year, and we doubt not that a large 

 number will be used at the coming harvest. 

 Handbills giving fuller information, and testi- 

 monials of the character of the machine, can 

 be obtained of Mr. McCormick, Cincinnati, or 



at the office of this pajier. We will also, if desired, order the machine, for any of our readers 

 who may wish to obtain them. [Ohio Cultivator. 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS— IN WHAT WAY ARE THEY USEFUL? 



Their value is to be measured not by the number of people in attendance, nor yet by 

 the number of things exhibited ; but by the new facta and valuable addition they bring to 

 the stock of agricidiural knowledge. 



If mere numbers, and admiration, and excitement, be the object, let a militia mustering 

 be advertised at any old field X roads, tiike care to have a drum and fife with a sprinkling 

 of red coats, and 8wt)rd8, and things that smell of violence and blood. Add to these a 

 dozen prancing stallions, a live bear and a ring-tail tame monkey — not forgetting to have 

 booths for sale of mead and gingerbread, with a barrel of still-bunit whisky in the crotch of 

 a cart-tongue, and the purpose will be fully answered. The throng will be as large as any 

 one can desire, but how many will go away either better or wiser ? The whole aim of Ag- 

 ricvdtural Associations should be to increase and dift'use knowledge, and spectacles should 



be encouraged only as ihey contribute to that end. 



(iir.4) 



