plating swords and other thin articles, this is a very desirabe machine.

Hydraulic Rams.

Your committee remark, that there were three several water rams on exhibition, of nearly equal merits, for which all received the awards of silver medals, or a diploma certifying a medal previously awarded.

These machines are useful in agricultural districts; and are made to elevate water for the supply of house or barn, where small streams and brooks exist on a farm, or from a spring near a brook; a low head of water, and quite a small rill is sufficient to raise a supply as above several hundred feet higher than its source. The ram exhibited by B. S. Benson, Esq., of Baltimore, Md., is the same as heretofore exhibited, and is no doubt the meritorious pioneer of all others, and has been occasion of introducing the use of water rams extensively in agricultural districts. The ram by W. B. Douglass of Middletown, Conn., possesses the facility of regulating the quantity of discharge, to accomodate the same to the different seasons of the year; and also the means of cleansing it from sediments, without taking the machine apart. The ram by J. L. Gatchel of Elkton, Md., contains an improvement by which the mixing of the spring water, with the brook water is prevented, where the water of the brook is used for the power to elevate it, and spring water is desired to be thrown up; no farmer possessing a suitable brook, and contiguous spring, should be without one of these cheap contrivances for elevating water, and by which a supply of water for culinary purposes may be furnished for his house-either of soft or spring water, his barn-yard, garden for irrigation, and his pastures for his herds.

Munsell's Boring and Morticing Machine.

This machine was exhibited by Mr. C. H. Young of Painted Post, N. Y., and for which a silver medal was awarded.

There has been of late years a very great number of morticing machines brought out, and for a variety of purposes, they have been classified under the general appelation of "power, hand and foot machines," the first are particularly appropriate for large manufacturing establishments-the two last named for more general use. In comparing a "hand," with that of a "foot machine," experience

and continued use has shown the former is preferable; other things being equal, the foot machine has been found to fatigue the operator, more than a hand machine. In working a foot machine, the man is made to sustain his own weight, mostly on one leg from which he is likely to be fatigued more than the man who has legs at liberty, throwing the weight of his body or part of it through the medium of his hand and arm, to operate his machine.

The machine in question is of the kind called a hand machine, designed particularly for carriage hubs. Your committee have observed a quality in this machine not heretofore noticed in others, at least not so perfect; that is the arrangement by which the work is executed entirely and accurately without having been previously laid out the index wheel being well designed to effect this result; the materials of which the machine is made, are mostly of wood, and of course, of cheaper construction, and quite portable. The operation of the machine gave entire satisfaction to the committee, possessing so many good traits, it is recommended to the confidence of such as take an interest in this kind of labor saving machines.

Wrought and Cast Iron Bridge.

The model exhibited by Solomon Whipple of Utica, N. Y., and for which a silver medal was awarded, possesses sterling merits.

The combination of the two kinds of metal are happily conceived; the chords or crashing parts of the bridge are cast, and the tension rods of wrought iron; the plan is wholly of iron, excepting the string pieces for railroad bars, or the planking of a common bridge, it has the merit both of economy and strength-two other models by the same exhibitor; one having a cast iron chord, sustaining string pieces by suspension rods, has considerable merit.

Mowing Machine.

Hitherto there has been but little success in attempts at machine mowing.

The machine exhibited by Wm. F. Ketchum of Buffalo, N. Y., and for which a silver medal was awarded-does its work upon the principle of shearing or clipping the grass, instead of cutting with a single edge, it has the merit of great simplicity of construction, and is a self sharpener operated by a single horse.

Judging from the testimonials shown us, we think the machine ought to be patronized by agriculturists.

Numerous other awards of gold and silver medals for highly useful improvements, and new inventions were granted and bestowed— many of which not having a general application are withheld in this report.

There were more than 300 exhibitions of machinery, of which about 150 received awards of medals or diplomas; two thirds of which were either new machines or improvements on old machines; no preceding fair of the American Institute having been so rich in the display of mechanical skill and science.

THOS. W. HARVEY, Chairman,

EXTRACTS

FROM

STATEMENTS OF EXHIBITORS.

JOHN M. MULFORD'S

Method of keeping Cows and making Butter.

I keep on an average thirteen cows and two two year old heifers, making fifteen young and old. My mode of selecting good cows for butter is this: When I buy or raise a cow I take two smooth glass tumblers, fill one of those tumblers about two thirds full of the milk of the new cow that I may have bought or raised, the whole cow's mess should be strained in a pan, and then put the tumbler two thirds full of it-then take in the same way of the mess of milk of one of my other cows of about the same age the other tumbler about two thirds full-set them both in the cellar together, if the cream on the new cow's milk is light and frothy, I dispose of her; if the cream is thick and solid on the new cow's milk, as it is on my other, that I know to be good, then I keep her for a dairy cow.

My pasture is mostly timothy and natural grass on low ground. In the spring of the year I feed a little grain to my poorest cows. From repeated tryings and weighings, I find the butter made from a single days milk will average 12 ounces of butter from each cow, from the first of May till the first of November,-earlier in the spring and later in the fall, I cannot obtain so much per day from each cow.

I use tin pans wholly for milk.

When the milk is thick we churn all the milk and cream together, in warm weather we add a pail full of cold water, before commencing to churn. If the butter is too long coming while churning I add also, a little warm water. When the butter is gath

ered in the churn, take it out and wash it with cold water till the milk is out-then salt it immediately, and let it stand in the cellar until the next morning then work it thoroughly till the pickle is worked out, and pack it in the pail or firkin-keeping it covered. JOHN M. MULFORD.

Shawangunk, Ulster Co., N. Y., t'eb. 21, 1848.

DAVID S. MILLS'

Mode of Cultivating his Farm for Dairy Purposes.

GENTLEMEN: At your request I give you an account of the crops raised the past year on my farm at New Town, L. I., as accounted to me by my overseer, Mr. Nathan Perry.

About the 30th of March last, we commenced plowing a twelve acre field for potatoes; when plowed, we manured broadcast with equal parts of cow manure and pond muck, putting 30 loads to the acre; cross plowed and harrowed it, then applied (as a trial to prevent rot) shell lime, to the amount of 80 bushels to the acre.

It then being in a desirable condition for planting we marked it out in drills, 3 feet apart, and commenced dropping the cuttings (pink-eyed-kidneys,) which had already been rolled in lime and plaster, using about 15 bushel to the acre, covered them with the plow, and in two weeks after, harrowed and cross-harrowed the field till level. As soon as the sprouts were 3 or 4 inches high we plowed through each row, and in another week we dressed the field with the hoe, and as soon as finished we again plowed them; they required no more attendance. On the 27th of July, we commenced digging our new crop. We found the yield less than anticipated, as the vines grew thriftily, receiving no blight, and from every appearance we were promised a handsome return. From the 12 acres we dug 1,455 bushels of merchantable potatoes, there being but few of inferior size, but their quality greatly aided in making up the deficiency, as they were very large and fine. I attributed the deficiency, to having used too much lime, as it caused the ground to be very dry. The field being cleared of the potatoes, we commenced plowing on the 31st of Sept. for wheat, and when finished harrowed it over, and removed all the stones that were to be found on its surface, then marking it out in squares of 27 feet, applied 18 loads of well rotted manure to the acre, (it being a compost of