276 MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



them in good condition, for the job. A carpenter would 

 make but a poor progress, were he to commence a building 

 without having sharp tools, so the mowing machine blades 

 must not only be well ground, but they must be kept in that 

 condition. When the blades become dull, their efficiency 

 will be greatly impaired, leaving bunches of grass over the 

 meadow, and adding greatly to the draught of the horses. 

 Not only must they be well sharpened, but all the nuts 

 should be tightened, as a loose bolt will often produce a 

 breakage. Oil must literally flow upon all the rubbing 

 surfaces. Many of the journals require to be oiled every 

 fifteen or twenty minutes — good, pure oil should be used — 

 that will not dry and gum up the works. 



When starting in, select the longest "through," as the 

 fewer turns the less loss of time. Keep an even, steady 

 gait, as it will not be so apt to tire or fret the horses. Don't 

 get fretted or out of temper if some slight delay occurs from 

 carelessness, or accidents, but resolve to profit by the expe- 

 rience, and avoid like contingences in the future. There is 

 a wonderful difference in the skill and effectiveness of dif- 

 ferent drivers. Some seem to glide over the ground with- 

 out difficulty, all day with the grass falling as gently before 

 them as if laid down by the touch of fairies, while others 

 will storm, fret and frown all day with but little work done 

 and both horses and themselves be worn out at night. 



We have refrained from going into a history or descrip- 

 tion of the various machines in use. They began at an 

 early day, about 1830. Since the introduction of William 

 Manning's, a great many different machines have come into 

 use, and the very best evidence of the efficiency of all of 

 them is that each man who owns one thinks that "make" 

 the best. It is usual to have a mower and reaper combined 

 but when a man is farming on a sufficiently extensive scale 

 it is better to have them separate, lor the motion necessary 

 to be given to the sickle, in mowing, is too rapid in reap- 

 ing, and consequently does not do so well. 



