1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



293 



PEOSPECTS OF THE HAY CROP- 

 MOWING MACHINES. 



March was an unusually dry month, bringing nei- 

 ther the usual amount of snow nor rain. April, on 

 the contrary, has been extremely wet and boister- 

 ous up to the 28th ; the weather being cold, and 

 nearly ten inches of rain having fallen. Remnants 

 of snow-drifts linger still under the north side of 

 the walls, and the ground everywhere is cold and 

 clammy as a wet sponge. This condition of the 

 season, however, is not unfavorable to the small 

 grain and grass crop. The west wind of early May 

 will sweep away the humidity of the atmosphere, 

 and its warm suns will bring the grass rapidly for- 

 ward. The prospects of an abundant hay crop, 

 we think, are favorable ; and now, before the hurry 

 and bustle of the haying season comes on, is the 

 time to make the proper preparation for that im- 

 portant crop. 



We had confidently hoped that before the gather- 

 ing of that harvest, some better machine for cut- 

 ting grass than any that has yet been before the 

 public would be introduced, and that, amidst all 

 the labor-saving machinery that has been invented, 

 the farmer might avail himself of some decided 

 improvement in securing his hay. This is a har- 

 vest that must be gathered within a comparatively 

 short period, and one that has usually brought in- 

 to requisition much help beyond that ordinarily 

 employed on the farm. 



Several mowing machines have been introduced, 

 and have been of great service to the farmer, but 

 most or all of them are objectionable on one ac- 

 count or another, and have failed to give that sat- 

 isfaction which is desired. We have guided Ketch- 

 um's machine for two or three years past, to do our 

 own mowing, and do not hesitate to say that it is a 

 great way beyond the common hand scythe ; have 

 seen Manny's in operation, and examined several 

 others, but cannot believe that the true machine is 

 yet in the hands of the farmer. 



Last year a premium of one thousand dollars 

 was offered for the best machine, by the Massachu- 

 setts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture. A 

 trial was had at which large numbers of amateurs 

 as well as practical men attended, and we under- 

 stood at the time that there was no hesitation on 

 the part of the judges in awarding the premium to 

 the Heath machine. We did not attend the trial, 

 and knew, then, nothing of the merits of the ma- 

 chine. Subsequently, however, we examined it M'ith 

 considerable care, and were forcibly struck with its 

 simplicity, and the direct manner in which the pow- 

 er is applied. We were informed too that the right 

 to construct and sell it was in the hands of competent 

 manufacturers, and it would be for sale this spring, 

 made in a finished and thorough manner. We 

 were not, therefore, a little surprised a few " day? 

 since to observe some intimation in the Boston 



Cultivator, that this machine would not be for sale 

 this spring, and felt sufficient interest in the matter 

 to go to the manufacturers at once and make the 

 inquiry. The reply was that a large number of ma- 

 chines were already begun, and that the public 

 might depend upon being supplied. 



We were shown moreover a finished Reaper and 

 Mower of the most beautiful construction,and which 

 is open to the inspection of all who will call at 

 Quincy Hall, Boston. The liberal appropriation of 

 the Massachusetts Society having been awarded to 

 this machine, and the highest commendations hav- 

 ing been bestowed upon it by the judges and others, 

 and the right to manufacture and sell being invest- 

 ed solely in one party, they are bound by every 

 principle 'of fairness to manufacture them well, and 

 dispose of them to our farmers at a moderate 

 profit ; and with our knowledge of the house pos- 

 sessing the right, we have no doubt the machine 

 will be in the market at an early day. 



The best method of securing the hay crop is a 

 matter of too much consequence, to be left for con- 

 sideration when the grass is in bloom. 



For the Neic England Farmer. 



THE POTATO CEOP. 



Mb. Editor : — There is perhaps no subject con- 

 nected with agriculture, about which people differ 

 more than the cultivation of the potato, both as to 

 the quantity of seed per acre, and the manner of 

 preparing it ; one person recommending to plant 

 none but whole potatoes, another to cut them ; one, 

 two in a hill, another one, and still another to plant 

 seed ends, while others advise to have the seed 

 ends cast aside. Now I have experimented more 

 or less for the last twenty years, and have come to 

 the conclusion that very much more depends upon 

 the season and the manner the ground is prepared, 

 than upon the seed used. Give me a good season, 

 and good ground, and I have no fear of not receiv- 

 ing in return a good crop, whether I plant one po- 

 tato in a hill, or two ; whole or cut, large or small, 

 though I do not intend when potatoes are plenty to 

 plant very small ones. My way of raising potatoes 

 is to plow under from twenty to thirty cart loads 

 of coarse manure to the acre, roll the ground if 

 greensward and harrow thoroughly — plant early 

 with one middling sized patato in a hill ; should pre- 

 fer to have it cut lengthwise, so as to divide the seed 

 end ; hill but once, but hoe as many times as may 

 be necessary to keep the field clear of M'eeds. 



April 27, 1857. A Vermont Farmer. 



Johnson's Metropolitan Washing Machine, 

 of which we spoke in favorable terms several weeks 

 since, has fully justified our opinion. It does the 

 work quick and effectually, is simple in its construc- 

 tion, and ought to be in every family of half a dozen 

 persons. They can be obtained of Messrs. Geo. 

 P. Cox& Co., 147 Washington Street, Boston. We 

 unhesitatingly recommend it to the consideration 

 of the public. 



