r.i 



There cannot be the Least doubt that such machines worked by 

 intelligent labour would be of considerable value, Imt the difficulty is 

 to get trained Labour to meet the situation. 



It is not important to go into every detail of the dilliculties 

 which are to be met in the introduction of such machinery, but it may 

 betaken as probable, that if left to the genius of ordinary estate hands 

 these machines like many others, will finally retire out of the held 

 of action. 



Horse-power Mowing Machines for cutting Glinka Grass. 



"• If the utility of Horse-Power .Mowing Machines for cutting 

 Guinea grass and cleaning commons was better known in .Jamaica, I 

 feel sure they would be in general use by our pen-keepers. For the 

 benefit of those who are imbued with the prevailing belief that our 

 rough pastures, full of stumps and stones, will smash up any horse- 

 power mower made in England or America, I Avill give my experience. 

 About eighteen months ago I selected from various English and 

 American catalogues, a " Deering Ideal One-Horse Mower." (American) 

 with a three feet, six inches cut, which to my judgment appeared to 

 be the machine to suit my requirements. This machine has now cut 

 over one hundred acres of grass and commons without costing a cent 

 for repairs, and I am still using the same pair of knives shipped with 

 the machine, neither of which has lost a single tooth, notwithstanding 

 having been repeatedly jammed with hoop iron, fencing-wire, and 

 other obstacles met with in the process of cutting my pastures. The 

 cost to me landed was £10 10s. With the aid of the book of directions 

 it is easily set up and operated. I found no difficulty, whatever. In 

 my first trials, finding that the machine cut too low and fouled in the 

 thick grass roots, I designed and had fitted a false shoe by means of 

 which the knife is kept three to five inches, as required, above the 

 level of the ground, and since this attachment the machine has been 

 a perfect success. The knives of the " Deering Mower " are so pro- 

 tected that they cannot be injured by stumps or stones, these are of 

 course an inconvenience, and in time ought to be entirely cleared out 

 of the grass pieces where the mower is to be used. When 1 commenced 

 my grasspieces were full of both, and in consequence much time was 

 wasted in stoppages to get clear of them. With one big horse, or a 

 pair of small mules. I can cut off an acre with my machine in half an 

 hour, and estimating 44)0 bundles to the acre, at 2s. od. per hundred 

 for cutting, I would have been paying 10s. per acre for work, which 

 with the aid of the mower, I can cut and carry in one hour using the 

 permanent day labour men on the property. 



In addition to the saving of time and labour in the cutting of 

 grass there is the value of a cleaning of your pastures at each cutting, 

 a perfect cleaning such as it would be impossible to get by hand labour ! 

 For cleaning commons this machine is unequalled, and I am sure if 

 better known would be in general use by our Pen-keepers, even for 

 this purpose alone, it cuts through cashaw and other green bush of 

 six months growth or more. Eight to ten acres per day would be a 

 reasonable task for a man and two mules. 



