FARM IMPLEMENl:S. 79 



The action of the knives I think very well of, "but the operation 

 of the two wheels is unfavorable as they are placed, unless the 

 ground is perfectly level ; for the elevation or depression of either 

 wheel throws the knife bar out of level, in consequence of which, 

 the grass is cut too high or the knives are in the ground. 



The Manny machine that I offer to your notice, I cannot speak 

 too highly of. 



I am satisfied that an acre of grass can be cut in half an hour ; 

 or that 15 acres can be cut per day, without injury to the team, for 

 its ease of draft enables the horses to perform a quarter more work 

 in the same time (in my opinion) than any other machine that I 

 have seen. 



The reason of its greater ease of draft is, that the wheel at the 

 end of the knife bar is so placed that the draft removes the friction; 

 that is, as the horses move, there is a constant lift on the knife bar, 

 which removes the friction from off the ground ; in other words, the 

 machine goes on wheels instead of dragging on the ground. 



Another great advantage in this machine is the ease of moving it 

 from field to field, or from one farm to another ; it being thrown out 

 of gear, and the knife bar raised by means of the brake 15 or 18 

 inches from the grour.d in less than a minute, and put in working 

 order in the same time. 



It alse adapts itself to uneven surfaces with the greatest facility, 

 having cut the grass in the most perfect manner, where Russell's 

 machine would not work at all. 



From my experience the past season, I am satisfied that there is 

 an actual gain in quantity in the use of the machine to the amount 

 of ^1;00 per ton ; or in other words, it is better to pay $1.00 per 

 acre for mowing with the machine, than to have it done by ordinary 

 nK)wers (such as we can get) for nothing. 



"With regard to its liability to breakage, I do not consider it 

 much greater than that of the scythe and sneath ; the only acci- 

 dents that I have met with in the use of the machine were caused 

 by its not heing properly put together, or by loose stones left on 

 the ground. 



Marblehead, Sept. 22d, 1855. 



