The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-06
PANS. Aug. Goth, 1878.


PARIS, Aug. goth, 1878.
| There is no reason why our own success, or
excellence, in the manufacture OF agricultural
| machinery should blind Us to the splendid
achievements Of other countries in this depart
ment and after few hours study OF the
English annex one cannot help being impressed
country in the invention and perfection Of
ponderous agricultural machines. The apph-
cation OF steam to agriculture Is OF compare
lively recen. introduction, and, indeed, may be
said to date from scarcely 80 years ago; but
the idea is old, and many clear -sighted men
seem to have long forseen its final ADOPTION
The reasons Of the tardy application Of steam
to branch OF industry in which it has proved
so effective, and. in fact, the relatively recent
leap, so to speak, which all agricultural ma
chlnery made, about the time steam blowing
came into fashion, is probably to be sought not
go much in the character OF the machinery it
self as in a change OF the social condition Of
the countries in which demand for high class
machinery has arisen. When labor is cheap
and the cultivation OF the soil is what writer's
call Intensive" rather than extensive the
outlay of capital for new inventions is out of
the question owing to the low price of grain
But in the last few years there have been, so to
speak, great revolutions in the labor o, certain
parts OF Europe. In Southern Russia, for IN
stance, the demand for agricultural machinery
has arisen chiefly from the emancipation of the
Serfs, a revolution which has resulted in a state
Of things similar 1t seems. to that of Ireland
The peasant is satisfied to live on the little
property that has fallen to HE share and has
left the great proprietors in the difficult posi-
ton Of having much land and great demand
for its products but no laborers. In Hungary
there is also demand for steam driven plows.
In France and parts OF Germany the soil is so
divided M into minute farms that want Of cap
ital prevents the purchase of expensive imple-
ments by individual holders. England, not
withstandlng the fact that she has an advanced
system Of working the land, is not an agricul-
tural country, and is becoming every year less
OF grain growing one; but her implements
have done much to revoutionize the methods
IN other countries, and at this Exhibition they
take in some respects the first position. It
seems as il England, having satisfedIher own
wants, has turned her inventive faculty chiefly
to those OF the foreigner. Nearly every exhib
itor in the British Agricultural annex has this
or that apparatus adapted to the SPECIAL re-
quirements OF one country or another. and
visit to this annex. with the aid at different
stands of the representative s of the firms ex-
hlbiting. is, need scarcely add, very interest
ing. Some of these gentlemen have spent
years in the countries for which their several
machines are made, and their explanations are
N many eases fresh page in TIE history OF
husbandry. This IS indeed feature of the de-
partment IN question. and. added to the UNI
form courtesy with which every inquiry is at
once replied to by all. from the chief to the
porter much contrasts with tire state of things
in the French branch where it is rare to find
the person in charge OF the machine, and who.
when he is found, is in filter stats to receive
information than to imp art it. The French
have large collection Of portable engines.
thrashlng machines and other implements: but
1 remarked nothing new in their construction
| remarked also that English portable engines,
even with the duty and transportation paid, can
compete with those exhibited by France, while
/ need not add that in point Of workmanship
the French engines cannot put forward claim
to perfection. Everything in the French branch
is painted ready for use, while the English ex-
hibitors have purposely left their steel work
free for examination.
A much more interesting display than the
French though much smaller. is that OF the
United States. Here are shown mowers, reap
ers, and sheaf-blnding reapers, for which sew
era American firms are well known or both
sides OF the Atlantic. What strikes one chiefly
is the hghtness and hardness of every thing
they. and, / must add. the Canadian manuiac-
turers show, and also the cheapness Of their
machines. No doubt but that American in
genuity has had an effect to awaken English
manufacturers, and many pretty little con-
trivance and sometimes big one, proves that
the English have something besides market
for their productions. Americans have done
everything in their power to make an impress
sion upon the visitor to their agricultural Sec
ton; valuable metal and carving have not been I
spared to give blilliance to the machines on
their stands, and heard the ironical remark .
that glass cases should have been placed over
some Of them. The American display is, how
ever, very attractive for other reasons than
this and having with characteristic ingenuity
set all the knives land rakes OF their reapers
and mowers in motion, they have avoided the
solemn silence of the English and French an
nexes And this is really not unimportant, for
many are attracted to the American shed by
the mere novelty OF motion in Agricultural ma