6 



benefit of the whole, and grow out of the stern and insatiable demand of 

 the whole, for every means by which they can be aided in their work. On 

 this account we have already outstripped the best countries of Europe in 

 uome of our agricultural operations, and in the most important inventions. 



For instance, American reaping and mowing machines have been brought 

 to a high state of perfection within the last ten years. They have already 

 a world-wide reputation. Their superiority is generally acknowledged, and 

 the credit of having for the first time made the principles applicable to such 

 machinery practically useful, undoubtedly belongs to our own ingenious 

 mechanics. Some years ago the American machines were brought to trial 

 at the exhibition at Paris, in competition with the world. This trial took 

 place in a field of oats about forty miles from the city, each machine having 

 about an acre to cut. Three machines were ordered for the first trial, one 

 American, one English, and a third from Algeria, all at the same time 

 raking as well as cutting. The American machine did its work in twenty- 

 two minutes, the English in sixty-six, and the Algerian in seventy-two. 

 At a subsequent trial on the same piece, when three other machines were 

 entered, of American, English and French manufacture, the American ma- 

 chine cut its acre in twenty-two minutes, while the two others failed. The 

 successful competitor on this occasion, "did its work in the most exquisite 

 maimer," says a French journal, "not leaving a single stalk ungathered, 

 and it discharged the grain in the most perfect shape, as if placed by hand 

 for the binders. It finished its piece most gloriously." 



The contest was finally narrowed down to three machines, all American. 

 Two machines were afterward converted from reapers into mowers, one 

 making the change in one minute, the other in twenty. Both performed 

 their task to the astonishment and satisfaction of a large concourse of spec- 

 tators, and the judges themselves could not restrain their enthusiasm, but 

 cried out, "(rood, good, well done," while the people hurrahed for the 

 American reaper, crying out, "That's the machine, That's the machine !" 

 "All the laurels," says the report of a French agricultural journal, "we 

 are free to confess, have been gloriously won by Americans, and this 

 achievement cannot be looked upon with indifference, as it plainly fore- 

 shadows the ultimate destiny of the new world .'" If French statesmen 

 had discovered what that destiny is, as acutely as did French farmers, 

 their government might have escaped the temptations of attempting to gain 

 a foothold on this continent during the trials of civil war, and might have 

 stood to-day side by side with our peopl c in their struggle for free institu- 

 tions, as their fathers did in the days of the Revolution. 



