1853 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
257 
Uate for tfo UloitlL 
Trial of Mowers and Reapers. —The trial of 
Mowers and Reapers, under the charge of a committee 
appointed by the Rensselaer County Ag. Society, took 
place on the farm of Mr. Kimball, in Greenbush, Wed¬ 
nesday, July 13. A large number of farmers and 
others were in attendance, and the interest manifested 
in the trial, amounted almost to enthusiasm. Not less 
than four hundred persons were present, and many were 
from adjacent counties. A stronger proof of the readi¬ 
ness of our farmers to avail themselves of every im¬ 
provement, could not be desired. The most incredulous 
of the'availability of these machines on small farms and 
uneven meadows, went away convinced that mowers can 
cut the grass closely, evenly and rapidly, and the gene¬ 
ral conclusion was, “ I must have a mower and a reaper, 
just as soon_as I can ascertain which is the better one.” 
The Mowing machines entered for competition were 
Ketchum’s, H. L. Emery’s and Manny’s, and each cut 
an acre of grass well. Ketchum’s machine seemed to be 
the favorite. It was operated by a practiced hand, worked 
without interruption, and cut the grass to the satisfac¬ 
tion of every one. The facility with which it can be 
turned about, and its compactness, make it preferable to 
the more complicated machines as a mower. A strong de¬ 
sire to have a mower and reaper combined .in the same 
machine prevails among farmers, and Emery’s and 
Manny’s attracted close attention on this account. Both 
of them did their work satisfactorily. Manny’s has 
been tested before; Emery’s was entered for an experi¬ 
mental trial, he being still engaged in improving it. 
Waving some faulty working incident to a new ma¬ 
chine, it operated finely, adapted itself to uneven sur¬ 
faces in a superior manner, and cut its way through 
lodged and trampled grass without clogging. The de¬ 
cision of the committee has not yet been made public. 
The only Reaping Machines entered for premium were 
Seymour & Morgan’s and Manny’s. The rapidity and 
regularity with which these machines cut and laid the 
grain, excited surprise and admiration. It was the 
general opinion that Seymour & Morgan’s machine did 
its work the best; but of this the committee will in due 
time decide, and let us know the specific excellences of 
each, and their relative value. 
Meantime, the farmers, who have seen the trial, will 
complain all the harvest season, that the scythes are 
uncommonly heavy and dull, their backs unusually 
weak, and dream at night of mowing machines, and see¬ 
ing an-acre of grass evenly fall in thirty or forty minutes. 
It will be severe work now to swing the cradle, and 
every farmer with twenty acres of grain has determined 
to buy a machine at an early day. 
Rearers. —The American Farmer states, that at 
the trial of Reapers on the 21st and 22d of June, under 
the direction of the Virginia State Ag. Society, the 
judges were divided in their opinions as to the merits 
of the three machines on the ground, two giving the 
award to Hussey's, two to BurralTs (which took the 
premium at the N. York trial last year;) and one to 
MCormick’s. 
The New- York Agricultor says —A trial of Reap¬ 
ing and Mowing Machines was had at Mount Holly, 
N. J., on the id instant, under the auspices of a com¬ 
mittee of the Burlington County Agricultural Society. 
The general result was decidedly favorable to the em¬ 
ployment of machinery for such purposes. Only Mc¬ 
Cormick’s and Hussey’s machines were entered for the 
reaping; McCormick’s, Hussey’s, Ketchum’s and Man¬ 
ny’s, for the mowing. The following premiums were 
awarded : 
For the best machine for Mowing and Reaping com¬ 
bined, the premium of $15 to McCormick’s machine. 
Second best “ Mower and Reaper,” the premium of 
$19 to Hussey’s Machine. 
For the best “Mower,” the premium of $10 to 
Ketchum’s machine. 
For the best “ Reaper,” the premium of $10 to Man¬ 
ny’s Machine. --- 
Town Ag. Societies. —The town of Galen, Wayne 
county, has an agricultural society, which, from its effi¬ 
ciency, is doing much to promote the interests of its 
farmers. They held a Plowing Match on the 4th 
inst., and are to hold a Town Fair on the 17th Sept. 
We should be glad to know how many Town Ag. So¬ 
cieties are in existence in this State. So far as we know, 
the number does not equal one to a county; but we see 
no good reason why one-half the towns in the State, 
should not organise such associations. Their influence 
would reaeh, much more effectually than county socie¬ 
ties can do, the mass of farmers, and the results could 
not fail to be of the most gratifying character. 
Query —Ought not the law for the t( Encouragement 
of Agriculture,” to be so amended as to make appro¬ 
priations to Town as well as County Societies?” 
Value of Railroads. —The Prairie Farmer says 
that the Eastern railroads which enter Chicago, have 
added ten to twenty-five per cent to every “useable 
animal with four legs,” and every other saleable sub- 
stace that animals produce. They have also given a 
cash value to many other things, which, though they 
might be used to a local extent, could not be sold. If 
animals have become of more value, of course the grass 
and grain that they eat have increased in price, as well 
as the land they grow on. All parties reap the benefit. 
The company prospers by the carriage of men, produce 
and merchandize; the farmer by the enhanced value of 
his produce; the mechanic by the increased demand and 
better pay for his work; the merchant and professional 
man, by the increase of facilities, conveniences, and the 
general growth and remuneration of business. 
Oregon. —We make the following extract from a let¬ 
ter from a subscriber, dated Oregon city, April 28, 
1853 :—“ It may be superfluous to write about the crops 
in this far off region, or of the climate. You no doubt 
read many statements—mostly, I think, exaggerated. 
The rot among potatoes has not reached here. The 
plum, as far as I have seen, has escaped the ravages of 
the curculio. The bitter rot does not affect the apple. 
On the contrary, this seems to be of superior quality; 
having a very smooth waxen surface, but thick rind. 
This spring is one month earlier, or nearly so, than last. 
It is now about time to plant com; but very little of 
this crop is grown. The ground must be highly ma¬ 
nured, or else the very choicest spots selected, or very 
little can be expected to ripen. Wheat looks well where 
not disturbed by mice, but in the prairie country, some 
crops are entirely destroyed by this troublesome animal. 
Where the crop stands, about an average yield, in this 
country, may be set down at 15 bushels. The grain is 
always remarkably well filled, but owing to the thickness 
of the bran, weighs only 58 lbs. to the bushel. In 
speaking of fruits, I might have added that there is 
promise of an abundant crop, excepting that in some 
parts of the flat prairie country the peach crop has 
suffered considerably by the frost. At some future time, j 
if desired, I will give you an account of the crops as _ 
they ripen, and whether the grape will ripen in the open & 
air in this latitude. We have many varieties of the rc 
apple and pear; also of other fruits. Many of each ft 
