72 FARM IMPLEMENTS. 



ment of the kind having been brought to the notice of the commit- 

 tee, and this operating for a short time only. 



At a special meeting of the committee on the 13th of October, 

 all present except Messrs. Duncan and Sutton, it was determined, 

 with a united voice, that the experiments presented demanded the 

 award of the first premium offered. Whereupon, after a careful 

 examination o'f the statements, and a free discussion of all the points 

 presented, it was determined by a vote of a major part of those 

 present^ (the chairman, in conformity with the vote of the Trustees, 

 expressing no opinion) that the premium of $50.00 be awarded to 

 William F. Porter, of Bradford. 



In making this award for the work done only, the commitee wish 

 it to be distinctly understood that they do not intend in any manner 

 to give a preference for one machine over the other, — because they 

 do not feel themselves sufficiently informed as to the principles in- 

 volved in the structure and operation of the machines, to express 

 such a preference. They indulge the hope that it will ere long be 

 in the power of the makers to make them more complete, both as 

 to the quality of the materials and tJte manner in which they are put 

 together. Notwithstanding the satisfaction they have experienced 

 in witnessing the work done, they are constrained to say that the 

 accidental injuries have been so many, and so oft occurring, that 

 they cannot recommend these machines without this qualification. 



The committee cannot but regret that they had so little opportu- 

 nity to examine machines operated by one-horse power. From what 

 they did see, and what they have otherwise learned, they believe 

 that machines of this character may be advantageously used on 

 New England farms. Tiie committee cannot express themselves too 

 highly in favor of the use of oxen — well trained oxen, on mowing 

 machines. They saw them thus operated on the farms of Messrs. 

 Sutton, Loring, Newell, and Waters, gentlemen in the possession of 

 as fine farms as any in the county, and who have as much discrimi- 

 nation in the use of such implements as any among us. 



It is to be borne in mind that the experiments made with mowing 

 machines were made on grounds not specially prepared for their 

 use, and under the direction and guidance of laborers not accus- 

 tomed to their use ; therefore great allowance must be made in 

 comparing the results with what may be hoped to be done under 



