INTRODUCTION. 15 



plished even more ; for, by means of a steam-engine 

 of six-horse power, he drives a pair of mill-stones for 

 grinding feed, thrashes and cleans grain, elevates and 

 bags it, pumps water for cattle, cuts straw, turns the 

 grindstone, and drives liquid manure through pipes 

 for irrigatmg his fields ; and the waste steam cooks 

 the food for his cattle and swine — all this work being 

 performed in a first-rate manner. 



Now these improvements were mainly effected 

 through the knowledge of mechanical principles, and 

 many of them would doubtless have been sooner 

 achieved and better perfected if these principles had 

 been well understood by farmers ; for, constantly using 

 the machines themselves, they could have perceived 

 just what defects existed, and, by understanding the 

 reasons of those defects, have been able to suggest the 

 remedies in a better manner than the mere manufac- 

 turer. Moreover, as the introduction of what is new 

 and valuable depends greatly upon the call for them, 

 farmers would have been prepared to decide with more 

 confidence and certainty upon their real merits, and 

 thus to increase and cheapen the supply of the best, 

 and to reject the worthless. 



One great reason that farm implements are still so 

 imperfect, is, that the farmers themselves do not fully 

 understand what is needed, and how much may be yet 

 accomphshed. They have not enough knowledge of 

 the principles of mechanics to qualify them for judgmg 

 of the merits of new machines ; and, being afraid of 

 imposition, often reject what is really valuable, or else, 

 being pleased with a fine appearance, are easily de- 

 ceived with empty pretensions. 



