MOWlIiGMACKINES. 45 



one machine. It may be so, and yet it is encouraging to know, ths^t they 

 are found to a good degree, though not in perfection, distributed among the 

 different machines above mentioned. For instance, we have one or two ma- 

 chines, which are tolerably light of draft, viz : Manny's, and Ketchum's im- 

 proved. The former of these is generally so acknowledged, but whether in 

 reality it has any claim to superiority in this respect, can only be determined 

 by an instrument made for the purpose. At a trial held on the farm of T. 

 P. Huntington of Hadley, in June last, we suggested that the competing 

 machines should be subjected to some such test, but it was not done. It is 

 a matter of some importance, and we may have occasion to refer to it again. 

 In regard to the second and third of our requisitions, Manny's seems to be 

 nearly perfect ; while in regard to the fourth and fifth, both that and Ketch- 

 um's do very fair work, though on the fifth point they are not faultless. We 

 are aware that it is claimed for both these machines, that they will not clog, 

 and we gladly concede, that in ordinary mowing, they do not ; but we have 

 witnessed instances, the past season, in which both proved themselves im- 

 perfect on this point. The difficulty arises probably, in part at least, from 

 the fact that the knives work about half of the time at a disadvantage. The 

 course of the knives on the ground being serpentine or zigzag, it is easy to 

 see that the central part of each stroke is made at much the best advantage. 

 When this difficulty shall hare been fairly overcome, the groat problem of 

 mowing with Machines will be solved. Mr. Eiissell's mower, though opera- 

 ting unfavorably in some respects, is as far as our knowledge extends, with- 

 out fault in this. Our acquaintance with it, however, is limited, and we 

 would not positively claim for it so desirable a quality. On the sixth point 

 Ketchum's is all that can be wished. The eighth point is accomplished with 

 Manny's mower by the use of the reel, and we know of no other way in 

 which it can be done. We presume it would be next to impossibility for any 

 man to spread grass as evenly as this Machine. On the other hand, Man- 

 "y'S) by being made to cut at any desired height, possesses peculiar advan- 

 tages in mowing over stubble grounds, that are growing up to weeds, mossy 

 and stony lands, &c. 



Thus it will be seen, that each machine has its own merits and defects. 

 Our object in speaking of them, is not to make invidious distinctions, but to 

 stimulate to further improvement. It is by no means desirable that alL 

 should be made by the same pattern. Competition, besides being the life of 

 business, may almost be said to hold in her hands the guarantee of perfec- 

 tion. Nothillg has contributed more, as we believe, to the excellence of our 

 plows, than the rival manufactories at Boston and Worcester ; and so close 

 has the competition become, that he must be a niggard in his commenda- 

 tions, who hesitates to award the merit of success to the conductors of either 

 of those establishments. 



So let it be with Mowers. Let each improve his own and each will receive 

 his due share of patronage. But we venture to say, our farmers will never 

 accept of a machine that will not cut all kinds of grass and cut it close. If 

 there is anything that the better class of them take a pride in, it is a well- 



