light. I took no account of what I cut in
any one day, with this exception: in less than half a day I cut
six acres, and was often detained for want of the requisite number
of binders, by which much time was lost. My machine being
something narrower than those generally made by Mr. Hussey, I
could cut but about one acre in going two miles; this, at the
moderate gait of two and a half miles per hour, would amount to
twelve and a half acres in ten hours; and at four miles per hour,
a speed at which the work is done in fine style, the amount would
be twenty acres in ten hours. I should judge my quantity per day
to range between ten and fifteen acres, yet I am decided in the
opinion that I can cut twenty acres in a day, of good grain, on
good ground, by the usual diligence of harvest hands, with a
little increase of my usual speed, and a change of horses. Two
hands are required to work the machine, a man to push off the
grain and a boy to drive, besides a number of binders,
proportioned to the quantity cut. As the machine can be drawn
equally fast in heavy or light grain, the number of binders is
necessarily increased in heavy grain, except an additional speed
be given in light grain. Under every circumstance, the number of
binders will vary from four to ten; and, when the usual care is
practiced by the binders, there will be much less waste than in
any other method of cutting.

[Sidenote: A Labor-Saving Machine]

"'I speak with more confidence of the merits and capacity of Mr.
Hussey's reaping machine, from the circumstance of having pushed
the grain off myself for several days, in order to make myself
practically and thoroughly acquainted with it, before putting it
into the hands of my laboring men. The land in this country being
rather rocky and uneven, it is hard to say what may be the
ultimate advantage of these machines to our farmers; but from what
little experience I have had, I am resolved not to be without one
or two of them. I can therefore recommend the machine with
confidence, especially to those who have a large proportion of
smooth ground in cultivation. It is undoubtedly a labor saving
machine, and worthy of their attention.

'JOHN STONEBRAKER.

'Mr. Bell, Editor of the Torch Light.'

"To this testimonial from one of the best and most practical farmers in
Mar