75 



their grass could be cut, while they only looked on. The 

 Committee, therefore, concluded to step into the yet reeking 

 grass, and set off the requisite number of one- quarter acre lots* 

 from a field well adapted to the purpose, offered, with his ac- 

 customed generosity, by one of the Committee, E. G. Berry, 

 Esq. One or two of the mowers cut the grass from the head- 

 lands, where the spectators might stand and the mowers turn, 

 and at half-past one the trial commenced. 



E. E. Lummus of North Beverly, entered one two-horse 

 and one one-horse Woods mowers, also one Davis improved. 

 Amos Poor, Jr., of West Newbury, entered one four-foot bar, 

 (two-horse,) and one three and one-half-foot bar, (one-horse,) 

 Union, and also one Manny, (one-horse,) owned by Daniel 

 Richards of Danvers. S. A. Merrill of Salem, entered one 

 four and one-half-foot bar, and one four-foot bar, (each two- 

 horse,) and one three and one-half-foot bar, (one-horse,) of the 

 Buckeye. 



. It was arranged that only one mower should operate at a 

 time, so that each person might give his undivided attention 

 to each machine. But want of time compelled the Committee 

 to let two move together. The Woods, the Union, and the 

 Davis improved were all new machines, light, and yet appar- 

 ently well put together, and strong. The Davis improved did 

 not work until the writer was compelled to leave_ the field. 

 The Buckeye and the Manny had been often used, and their 

 merits are well understood. 



The Committee, five of whom were present, considered their 

 duty on the occasion to be to give all those interested an oppor- 

 tunity to exhibit, and see, and compare the various mowers, so 

 that each person should be the better able to judge which of 

 them, on the whole, would be best adapted to his own work. 

 At this time, when the sons of our farmers and so many of the 

 constantly diminishing number of good mowers have thrown 

 aside farming implements for the rifle and the bayonet, these 

 mowing machines are becoming a necessity ; and the great 

 question is. Which shall I buy ? 



