432 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



For the New England Farmer. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 



We perceive that increasing attention is given 

 to these, and Ave know of no vray in which the 

 operations on the farm can be so readily improved, 

 as by introducing such implements as are ])C8t 

 fitted for the purpose. 



Already everything has been said about the 

 plow, that it is profitable to say; but about the 

 implements for cutting the grass when grown, a 

 new vein seems to be opening, and a variety of 

 forms putting forth. We had supposed that 

 "Ketchum's Mower" was to occupy the field; 

 but we hear objections made that it requires too 

 much power of draft, and a speed of movement in 

 the team, that cannot long be sustained ; — both 

 of which objections, Ave think, may be readily 

 OA'ercome. The first, by a more complete finish to 

 the machinery, — the second , by giving an increased 

 velocity to the cutter. The principle of the ma- 

 chine seems to he perfect, if these little difficul- 

 ties can be surmounted ; and a perfect knoAvledge 

 hoAv to use it can be acquired. A want of this 

 is probably the reason Avhy so many have cast 

 it aside. I know a man, who procured one of 

 these moAvers, the last year, and tried it half a 

 day, and then laid it by. The same gentleman 

 has taken it out the present season, and tried it 

 thoroughly, cutting more than one hundred tons 

 of hay Avith it, aud now says he would not be 

 Avithout it for ,'?::2000. He considers it the best 

 illustration of labor-saving machinery he has ever 

 met — coming into use, just at the season of the 

 year, when labor is most needed. This machine 

 is operated by two horses, cutting when in good 

 order, one acre of grass, in an hour. I have 

 heard of machines fitted to be Avorked by one 

 horse, simpler in their structure, and less like- 

 ly to get out of order. When such can be per- 

 fected, I think they must come into general use. 

 A gentleman has recently authorized the offer of a 

 premium of one Imrulred dollars, for the best moAv- 

 er fitted for use on our farms, &c. This Avill ap- 

 pear in the next offer of premiums l^y the Essex 

 County Society. In the meantime, Ave hope ev- 

 ery manufacturer Avill send us to the ShoAV at 

 Lawrence, such as they now have, that the far- 

 mers may understand wiiat a mower is, and how 

 it operate.'?. * 



August 0th, ]So4. 



Rejiarks. — We have paid good moAvers ift2,25 

 a day tliisseason, and they Avere offered $3,00 per 

 day for a few days. Now this Avill not ansAA'er 

 for the common farmer ; some cheaper mode of 

 cutting his grass must be devised. As our cor 

 respondent states, wo have no doubt that the 

 true principle of mowing by machinery, has been 

 discoA^cred. The machines, hoAvcver, like most 

 others in their incipiency, are imperfect ; use 

 and the genius of our iuA'cntors and mechanics 

 •will soon obviate their present defects. But a ma- 

 chine to be drawn readily by one horse is now 

 the great want^of the New England farmer. Most 

 of them keep one horse — only a comparative few, 

 two. If this machine should cut a sAvarth of on- 

 ly two feet, or even 18 inches, and so constructed 



as not to be liable to get out of order, it would 

 supply the gi-eat present want of our farmer?. 

 Our correspondent has done Avell in calling atten- 

 tion to this important subject, and Ave trust that 

 a good machine for one horse Avill be ready before 

 another hay harvest comes. 



DESTRUCTION OF BUSHES. 



In many places there are grounds which can- 

 not be AA-ell ploAved, that afford tolerable pastur- 

 age, if not too much occupied by bushes. The 

 shrubs which are inclined to grow in these situa- 

 tions, are alders, briars, of several kinds, Avhortle- 

 berry, &c. When these are permitted to groAV, 

 they prevent the growth of gi-ass to a great ex- 

 tent, and make that Avhich does grow sour and 

 worthless. 



The mode usually adopted for killing bushes 

 in such circumstances, is to moAV them. The ef- 

 ficiency of this has been found to depend much 

 on the time of the year in which thcAvork is done. 

 Cutting in winter seems to have little effect towards 

 destroying them ; they start with the return of 

 spring, and grow rapidly. The effect is nearly 

 the same if they are cut Avhile the foliage is de- 

 veloping. All trees and shrubs make their annu- 

 al groAvth in a few weeks from the' time of put- 

 ting out leaves. During the remainder of the sea- 

 son the Avood hardens and the buds of the next 

 season's foliage are set. The juncture when the 

 leaves have attained their full size, and the growth 

 of the season is checked, is sometimes called "turn 

 of the sap." The vitality of many plants is great- 

 ly impaired if they are cut off at this time. But 

 with another species, cutting at another period — 

 the last of August, is more fatal. 



The black alder usually grows in moist, rich 

 ground, such as is very natural to grass. From 

 their rapidity of groAvth they soon occupy the 

 ground to the exclusion of other vegetation, and 

 appropriating the best soil to their use, they oc- 

 casion much loss. Attempts are often made to 

 eradicate them, which do not succeed, and this 

 produces discouragement, Avliich induces the far- 

 mer to alloAV them to groAv unmolested. The re- 

 sults of trials at cutting alders at various seasons 

 of the year, have proved that the above mentioned 

 is preferable. We might cite much evidence in 

 support of this, but perhaps Avhat Ave have al- 

 ready said may induce some ono to undertake the 

 work. 



In killing briars and small bushes, bruising 

 sometimes answers better than cutting. A tool 

 called a "Ijush Avhacker" has been used for this 

 purpose. 



Briars and whortleberry bushes may be kept 

 down ])y sheep, after having been closely cut with 

 a scythe. It is necessary, hoAvcver, to stock heav- 

 ily in order to compel the sheep to eat the bushes 

 as soon as they start. If the bushes are closely 

 kept down for a year or tAvo, the grass Avill spread 

 and form so close a sward, on good land, that the 

 bushes Avill have little chance to grow. It is im- 

 portant that when the work is begun it be 

 followed up. Once mowing may be partly 

 effectual, but if the sprouts are not cut at the 

 proper time the next season, the labor is in a great 

 deo-ree lost. — Boston Cultivator. 



