230 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



order is short, making it difficult to procure sufficient labor at 

 the right moment to secure it in good condition. The work 

 comes in the very hottest season of the year, and the exposure 

 under our burning July suns costs annually many valuable lives. 

 Philanthropy, as well as self-interest, therefore, should stimu- 

 late us to adopt every method calculated to save as much of 

 this labor as possible. 



That this may be done to a very considerable extent, has 

 been demonstrated during the past summer. The mowing ma- 

 chine has been introduced into our fields, and has worked quite 

 as successfully as could have been expected at this early stage 

 of its career. The objections to it are mostly of a nature 

 which practice will readily overcome, and doubtless many im- 

 provements are yet to be made in it. Much depends upon us 

 in order to give this implement a fair trial ; and we should en- 

 deavor, each one by his actual experience, to point out how it 

 can be further improved. There are some who object to its 

 use on account of the smallness of our enclosures and the 

 roughness of our fields ; but to my mind these are arguments 

 in its favor, since, if it be necessary to have larger enclosures 

 and smoother fields, we shall only be forced to do that in order 

 to work it which, as good farmers, we ought to do under any 

 circumstances. So, too, another objection, not unfrequently 

 made, that it requires a skilful man to direct its operation, is 

 equally in its favor, for it will bring that skill to our farms 

 which is now so greatly needed. You may rely upon it, that 

 labor connected with the exercise of intelligent skill will never 

 be a want in this country. Our farms have ceased to be a 

 favorite scene of labor to our young men, because the work to 

 be performed is mere drudgery, without pleasure or excitement 

 to the mind, but full of weariness to the body. If, however, 

 you will bring to the farm the steam engine or horse power, 

 and the various implements they put in motion, our children 

 will gladly remain upon the homesteads they now desert for 

 the factory, the machine Bhop, and the railroad, lie who delves 

 and digs the earth from morning till night has little time and 

 less inclination for thought — he becomes a mere toil-worn ma- 

 chine at last; but if he is connected with an implement, the 

 working of which he is to guide and direct, his position is com- 



