44 



against its introduction, a fact by no means creditable to the intel- 

 ligence and enterprise of our people. In this respect, however, 

 it meets the usual fate of improvements. The same man who 

 determined not to use the roller, and horse-rake, and corn-shel- 

 ler, and afterwards used them, now condemns before hand the 

 mowing machine. It was said that it could not be used in our 

 fields ; that it would be too heavy, and always out of order ; that 

 it would ruin the horses, who, in their turn, would ruin the grass 

 by tramphng it down. A great amount of cheap wisdom was 

 employed to prove that it could not be used ; and Avhen it was used 

 successfully, then the objection was that the expense was ruinous, 

 that small farmers would be excluded from its benefits. This 

 objection is now removed, as we shall presently show by this year's 

 experience. The mower has triumphantly established itself, and 

 may be regarded as a fixed fact until something better shall dis- 

 place it. No doubt it will be improved, will be cheaper, lighter, 

 and capable of doing more work at less expense. That it will 

 do it better, seems hardly possible. Enough has been done to 

 show that the principle of its construction is sound, and that, 

 with more or less modification, it may be profitably employed on 

 small farms. Several instances of its successful operation have 

 fallen under our observation, but, inasmuch as the Committee of 

 the State Society are preparing a detailed report upon this sub- 

 ject, we forbear to mention them. A single case may be given 

 as an example. 



Mr. W. Salisbury, of Medfield, informed us that Mr. Joel 

 Morse, with one of Allen's machines, moAved for him twelve acres 

 of grass in a day. The grass made twelve tons of hay. Mr. 

 Salisbury said that he was perfectly satisfied with the manner in 

 which the work Avas done. The grass Avas cut more uniformly 

 smooth than the best mower could have done it with a scythe. 



We have heard many farmers express a determination to use the 

 machine next hay-time. As full statements of the comparative 

 excellence of the different machines may be expected in the 

 Report already alluded to, we do not consider it expedient to be 

 more particular in this notice. 



The late Hon. John Lowell relates an experiment which he 

 made with plaster, with very satisfactory results. " I had a field 

 which had been laid down to grass more than seven years, and 



