41 



with the little time and opportunity your committee had to test the various 

 machines, we do not feel that our decisions should be made the test to gov- 

 ern others in their selections. 



But of this we are sure, that no man who makes hay for profit, can af- 

 ford to do without a mowing machine and horse rake. The man who 

 puts his labor in competition with the labor of his neighbor's horse, must 

 toil early and late, work hard and be content with small profits, as will be 

 seen by the estimate which we append herewith. In this estimate we 

 count man's labor at 25 cents per hour, and span of horses the same; 

 and with present improved mowers, machine mowing is not hard work for 

 man or horses. Very different work from swinging the scythe by hand. 



A man with a machine and span of horses, will cut five acres in five 

 hours; with rake and one horse will rake five acres in two hours. Five 

 men will mow five acres in five hours, and three men will rake by hand, 

 five acres in five hours, and allowing eight tons of hay to the five acres, 

 the account will stand thus: 



MoAving eight tons hay with machine, $2 50 



Raking " " " " horse rake, 1 00 



$3 50 



Mowing eight tons hav bv hand, $6 25 



Raking " " •'" " " 3 75— $10 00 



Showing the cost in one case to be $3 50 per eight tons, or 43 3-4 cents 

 per ton, and in the other $10 per eight tons, or $1 25 per ton, and in ad- 

 dition to this may be added the independence from hired help, and the 

 ability to secure the hay at the best time. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted. 



C. O. Perkins, ) 

 Leonard Potter, >- Committee. 

 Albert Ticknor, ) 

 Great Barrington, June 23, 1868. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS EXHIBITED AT FAIR, 



There were but fourteen entries in this division. A number of these 

 were made by the patentees of the articles exhibited. To encourage the 

 inventors of agricultural implements to exhibit their inventions at the meet- 

 ings of our society, we have recommended certain extra premiums to the 

 makers of those that were this year presented. 



On the other articles exhibited we have awarded premiums as follows: 

 Best churn, S. K. Norton of Great Barrington, $2 00 



2d do., H. D. Hollenbeck of Egremont, 1 00 



There was but one entry of Cultivators to which we award the sec- 

 ond premium to Miles Avery of Great Barrington, 3 00 

 Best corn shelter, W. S. Treat of Agawam, 2 00 



2d do, C. C. French of West Stockbridge, . 1 00 



