11 



be jtractlsed by tlie sharp manufacturer ujion the honest, hard 

 working" consumer. Let the Society furnish the means for a 

 thoroug'li test of all tlie points claimed l)y tlie exhibitor, in tlie 

 ])resence of the nniltitude, who may be there to witness, and 

 then an impartial judgment may be obtained. 



Take the Reaper and Mower of which the honored Secretary 

 of Agriculture in our Connnonwealth said, '''Jliey are but tyj)es 

 of the ever restless spirit of the age." 



'J'he first American patent of much importance was granted 

 in 1831, and so ra]»id have been the im))rovements. and demand 

 for them, that it is said in 18G4 nearly 90, 000 reapers and mow- 

 ers were sold in the United States. Now is it not manifest, 

 that while tlie demand for this kind of machinery increases so 

 rapidly that the utmost care should be taken that qnalltij should 

 lu^t be overlooked l)y (piantity. In answer to a question put by 

 your committee to one of the exhibitors of Mowing Machines, 

 referring to its particular merits, he proceeded at once to tell 

 how many had been sold in a year. Now this is not important 

 f(U' the Society or community to knoAv, but if one machine will 

 do the same (or more) work than the other, with less power, 

 the mechanical parts being equal, then that is the machine want- 

 ed by every farmer. But the ({uestion arises, how shall w^e get 

 at this result? We ask, carniot our Society ])repare its grounds 

 in such a manner and put on a crop as will bring the machines 

 to a thorough and practical test ? AVliat Ave ask for the Plow, 

 tlie Mower and Reaper, we also ask for the Rake, Tedder, Fork, 

 Threshing Machine and all others, which are of the greatest 

 importance to the farmers. Let this be done at the expense of 

 the Society. It is for their benefit. It is a tax to poor inven- 

 tors, to bring tlieir machines and remain on the grounds to ex- 

 hibit them, but it may be said, it will not pay ! AVe ask, Avhat 

 Society has tried it ? If none, then why not ours ? Ours, 

 which being located in the same vicinity and under the shadow 

 of the Agricultural College of Massachusetts, ought, of all 

 others, to be the one to take advance steps, while all the world 

 looks on. Let us move forward, offer a specific and liberal re- 



