MR. fay's address. 5 



not sot tho example and shown tho way, we are not too late to fol- 

 low that of others, and perhaps yet to take the lead. 



This county is eminently a liay producing one. It is the money 

 crop on which many farmers rely principally for a cash return, to 

 meet the outgoes of the season's work. Although I do not consider 

 it a profitable crop, under any circumstances, to the extent to which 

 it is usually carried, yet it must always hold a very important place 

 in point of value among our products. Labor-saving machinery 

 can be made to play a most important part in the management of 

 this crop, and by lessening the cost of harvesting it, the increased 

 profit will invite to a more varied course of cultivation, even if it 

 be only with a view to increase its amount. There are many dis- 

 advantages incident to the hay crop, especially when it forms a 

 large proportion of the produce of the farm. It is bulky, and re • 

 quires a large force to make it ; the time for harvesting it in proper 

 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 burn- 

 ing July suns costs annually many valuable lives. Philanthropy, 

 as well as self interest, therefore, should stimulate 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 machine 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 improvements are yet to be made in 

 it. Much depends upon us in order to give this implement a fair 

 trial, and we should endeavor, each one, by his actual experience, 

 to point out how it can be further improved. There are some who 

 obje'ct to its use on account of the smallness of our inclosures and 

 the roughness of our fields — but to my mind these arc arguments 

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

 skillful 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 intel- 



