238 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The trouble of keeping it in repair was very slight indeed. 

 No repairs were made upon it during the whole season but by 

 myself, and only in a single instance when one of the knives 

 was broken. I supplied a new knife at a cost of seventeen 

 cents. No other repairs were made or were necessary, owing 

 to the perfection and simplicity of the machine. 



I cut with it about forty acres of second' crop and found that 

 it worked it as well as in first crop. 



I do not mean to say that I have done all of this work 

 myself personally. About one-half of it was done by a young 

 man in my employ ; and although he commenced this season 

 without any previous practice, he was, after a week's experience, 

 enabled to work the machine as well as I could. The difficulty 

 with a new beginner is more in the management of the team 

 than of the machine. 



I have given a fair trial to all the mowing machines that I 

 have seen except the Danforth Improved ; though I have never 

 used this one I have worked with mine by the side of it and 

 had a good opportunity to observe its operations, and am 

 clearly of opinion that the Allen machine is much superior to 

 it in every practical point. 



I have found that one of the greatest advantages of the Allen 

 machine is in the fact that the knives are all well guarded so as 

 to almost wholly protect them from injury by stones. Another 

 great advantage is that the knives can be easily raised by means 

 of a lever and wheel (without stopping the team) so as to pass 

 safely over rocks and stumps eighteen inches high. This feature 

 of the machine renders it quite advantageous in rough, stony 

 or stumpy fields. 



I have used, besides the Allen machine, the Heath, Russell, 

 Manny, and the Ketchum machines, and have found none but 

 the Allen to worii satisfactorily. 



Salem, November 11, 1858. 



Statement of James Gary. 

 Manny's Mower. — The machine which I offer and have 

 operated for the premium the present season, is Manny's 

 Improved, with which I have cut upwards of eighty acres of 

 grass. The average time of cutting per acre is fifty minutes. 



