Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-21
d0(Ortester DAILY Spp.


bers, from one and Il half to two tons to the
acre, III strteen minutes with one of Nourse. Ma
son, & Co.'S improved Ketchum Mowers. NV
mower is the identical one which was victori-
Gus at Sutton, June 20.
SOLOMON CARROLL.
From the New England Farmer
WHY DO You Nor PURCHASE A MOVING
MACHINE ?-Alr. Edttor-I the above ques-
ton were put TO many of our farmers, they
would respond by saying, Chat the manutac-
tuners are continually making improvements,
and intend to wait until | can get the best"
Now let us examine this reply for a few mo-
ments, and see if it will abide the test of sound
reasoning. | presume that have your assent
to this proposition That until recently near
ly all the inventive genius that has been ex-
pended, has been in the line Of producing and
cheapeling our apparel and our equipage in
stead Of our food, the most important article
Therefore, the time has fully come when the
latter should receive its full share of inventive
talent. To make this most effective, tits man
ltest that on the part of the manufacturer and
practical farmer there should be mutual SYM
pathy and cordial effort. | hold that there
is no ingenuity, skill or theory, appli-
cable to some agricultural implements,
which will not utterly fail when test
ed by putting the same on, or into
the ground, by practical farmer. Hence
1t is the duty, L think of farmers to cooper
ate with the manufacturer in his efforts to i'm
prove and perfect agricultural machines and
implements. Should he not, therefore, pur-
chase and use those machines, although imper-
feet and In the process of using them, report
to the maker Of them their failings, or suggest
Improvements In this way, am satisfied
that such labor-saving machines may be OBJ
tanned as shall very much facilitate and render
farming attractive i'll New England If this
reasoning is correct the above observations
will apply with peculiar force to moving
machines. The practical utility OF a machine
Tor cutting grass is now question past contro-
versy, or discussion. 1t is only question of
time to prepare the surface of our moving
lands and the machine best adapted to do the
work do not propose to enter the partzan
controversy respecting moving machines l
DO not profess to be special advocate for eth
er OF them, and have refused to be paid
agent for the sale of them from two establish
ments.
| was present at the trial of mowers in
Boylston June IA, and saw the operation of
the five machines, and for the first time saw
the working Of the Nanny machine. | have
also read i'll the New England Farmer the re-
port OF the trial by Truth and Justice" and
the reply by Mr.. Brown. After carefully
reading these statements, | apprehend they
are not an exception to the general rule in such
cases that the exact truth is to be found "be-
tween them" If l were called upon to cor
rect them, should say that "Truth and Jus
tce" had not given sufficient credit for the
cutting OF the Nanny machine and Mr.
Brown overstated the difference of draft be-
tween the two. While | do not profess to be
81 partlzan IN this matter, do confess that |
am much pleased with the working of the
hetchum patent, as now manufactured by
] Nourse, Mason, & Co. 1t is also my impress
sion, confirmed by six years experience, that
4 In order to be adapted to New England farms,
as we ind them, and to be popular throughout
New England, every machine must be reduc-
4 ed, substantially, to the construction of the
4 Ketchum mower. The manufacturers of the
various machines will call this sweeping OBJ.
servation, and demand my reasons
The moving lands of New England will al
ways present obstacles, more or less, to the
mower, such as apple trees, boulders, stumps,
uneven surfaces, &c. We are bound, never
theless, to have a machine which will work,
Notwithstanding these obstacles But, under
these circumstances, the demand is imperative
that we have a mower in its construction sim
pie, strong, compact, "handy;" one into which
we can readily insert cutters of different
length, from three foot to a six foot accord
ing to the condition of the grass, surface, or
obstacles. This idea of changing cutters car
ries with ii an importance which farmers do
not yet appreciate. My own experience ena-
bles me to say that it is most happy arrange
ment by which accommodate my machine to
the grass to be cut, and the work to be done,
to the capacity of my team. l may be mis-
taken, but L apprehend that | am correct in
saying there is now no machine capable of
meeting the above demands but the Ketchum
patent.
The labor of taking apart and of re-adjusting
is a consideration with me in favor of the small
iron machine Last Fall neighbor came to
me for my machine to cut his rowen said that
he had been to three owners of the Nanny
and they refused because their machines were
taken apart, and it was too much work to 'rig
up" The Ketchum, occupying four square
feet in the corner of my tool room, was ready
for action in less than ten minutes.
When my first machine had more than paid
for itself, and when the manufacture of both
kinds had made great improvements, / sent it
back with directions to send me their best
mower, and give me what they could afford for
the old one. To this last, have added the
improvements as they have come out, and yes
terday cut piece of grass sixty rods long
and three wide Zone and one eighth acre) in
less than an hour, the town clock bearing tes-
timony. And yet my horses gave no evidence
of the least extra labor. Now, sir if you do
not consider this sufficiently expeditions, come
and see me, and tomorrow | will slip in a six
footer, and cut an acre by the side of it in
thirty minutes, and yet my horses will not la
Dor harder than they did with the old machine
with a four-foot cutter.
do not profess to have any scientific guage
by which can discover the amount of power
required to overcome a given amount of re-
sistance, but from careful observation | have
reached this conclusion That the two horse
machine as now manufactured by Nourse Mason
& Co., requires no more power to work it with
six foot cutter than the machine did with
four foot cutter made five years since. Also,
that the one horse machine, with three and
one-half foot cutter, is no harder for one horse
than it would be for the same horse by the
side of another in the old machine with four
foot cutter. For this statement, however, you
have only my own judgement, based upon the
evidence had at Boylston.
Nearly all the interest manifested in moving
machines in this part of the country appears
to be in behalf of the 0ne-horse machines.
This is to be expected, inasmuch as probably
nine-tenths of our farmers keep but one-horse.
These are Just now being introduced, and re-
main TO be tested. AT the trial at Boylston,
their working was very gratifying to me, and
think they come within the ability OF most
farmers horses to work them.
The manufacturers of these mowers need no
circulars from me, certifying that they are
honorable men," and will only say to those
who purchase Of them that they seem anxious
to supply all improvements as fast as discov-
cred, and have no doubt that with the aid
and patronage Of farmers, they will give us a
machine OF such price and quality, that every
man who has twelve or fifteen acres to cut
will find it for his interest to buy.
CHARLES HUMPHREY.
Lancaster, July /, 1859.