70 FARM IMPLEMENTS. 



FARM IMPLEMENTS. 

 MOWING MACHINES. 



The committee, (consisting of J. W. Proctor, J. H. Duncan, 

 M. Newell, J. How, E. S. Williams, R. P. Waters and William 

 Sutton) fuUj impressed with the importance of the subject entrus- 

 ted to their care, and the deep interest awakened in it throughout 

 the county, the Commonwealth, and the entire community, have 

 given it all the attention in their power to bestow. When advised, 

 by a communication from the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society 

 for the Promotion of Agriculture, that their attention had been called 

 to the same subject, (probably by the generous donor who had 

 placed funds in their own hands in trust for this purpose) they be- 

 came anxious to do what they might to co-operate with said Trus- 

 tees. Accordingly they gave notice that early in July, as soon as 

 the grass should be in condition to be cut, they would personally 

 attend to the operation of all Mowing 3fachines to which their 

 attention miglit be called. Eight entries were made with the s^ec- 

 retary, five from the southerly, and three from the northerly sections 

 of the county. 

 ^ On the 16th of July a trial was had on the grounds of Dr. 

 Loring, one of the competitors, at the Pickman farm, in South 

 Salem. The machines of Messrs. Loring and Ware, together with 

 those of several other gentlemen, were there upon the field, — each 

 cutting, by the aid of horse power, in from 10 to 20 minutes, one- 

 quarter of an acre of grass, yielding about one and a half tons ta 

 the acre. This was done in the presence of many citizens and 

 farmers, some of whom had never before seen the operation of such 

 machines— and to the great gratification and instruction'of all. 



On the 17th a like experiment was had on.thefarmof CoL 

 Newell, of West Newbury, one of the committee, who not only 

 opened his fields, but his house also, to all who chose to go in. The 

 committee were much pleased with these experiments, and encour- 

 aged the competitors who had taken part in the performance to go 

 on. The committee also took occasion, as they had opportunity, to 

 look into the fields of the several competitors, and to inform them- 

 selves of wliat they did, and liow they did it, so that they can say, 

 •with great confidence, that each and every acre reported in the 



