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simple, and yet so complete and perfect in its combina- 

 tions, that it would answer the description given-by the 

 prophet, viz., " I will make you a new threshing instru- 

 ment to thresh the mountains with " ? Which, we should 

 understand in our day, means simply that they shall be 

 so easily arranged and readily purchased that those living 

 on the mountain's top, or the hill-sides, can as readily 

 have them as those living in the more fertile valleys. 



But how, the farmer inquires, is this state of things to 

 be brought about ? We answer, make known your wants 

 to the scientific mechanic, personally, or through the me- 

 dium of the Executive Committee of your annual exhibi- 

 tions. Point out clearly, too, the defects of the present 

 machines, and offer a liberal premium to the inventor, 

 and you may be sure that inventive genius will contribute 

 to your wants. Mechanical industry, like other pursuits, 

 seeks its reward, and why should it not be granted. 

 There is latent inventive skill enough among our own 

 people to supply all that our farmers want. For instance, 

 let the Executive Committee offer special premiums for 

 each specific improvement called for in plows, harrows, 

 hoes, rakes, mowing machines, or any other machine that 

 needs improving. Let the farmer make known what he 

 wants, point out clearly the defects of the present ma- 

 chines, and inventive genius will soon supply his demand. 



Such was the case in reference to one of the greatest 

 agricultural inventions of this country, the cotton gin. 

 First, southern men of influence, tillers of the soil, sug- 

 gested to the inventive mind of Eli Whitney the great 

 need of some machine for cleaning cotton from the seed, 

 in order that cotton raising might be profitable. Young 

 Whitney, though in destitute circumstances, with the hope 

 of due reward, seized the idea and brought the inventive 

 energies of his powerful mind to devise a plan for this 

 object ; and so great was his production that ample com- 

 pensation came to his relief, and the untold benefits to 

 this country can only be counted by millions of dollars. 



We believe that similar would be the result in refer- 



