at the Plymouth Meeting. 393 



Our award in this Class was as follows : — 



To Messrs. W. A. Wood, No. 46 Prize of 



To Messrs. Samuelson and Co., No. 7 . . . 

 To Messrs. Hornsby and Sons, No. 1907 . . 



Highly commended : Cuthbert, No. 376. 



Mowing Machines. 



The trials in this class were divided into those for simple mowers and those 

 for combined machines, as mowers. The crop was of a character calculated 

 to prove the efficiency of different implements imder difficulties, being heavy, 

 with an uneven bottom, and a quantity of dead bottom grass. The ground 

 had not been mown for some years, and no care had been exercised to prepare 

 the surfticc by rolling, &c. Lots were drawn, and the ground marked out into 

 strips ; as the heaviest and worst cutting portions fell to the lowest numbers, 

 the selected machines were afterwards worked on the same ground, so that a 

 fair comparison could be made. The plan adopted was for each machine to 

 cut twice round its plot, and then to be tested once round by the dynamometer. 

 Thirteen machines competed as mowers. (See Tables D and E). 



A. (J. Bumlett of Tlmsk, No. 681, a strong useful mower, furnished with a 

 largo front travelling wheel which appeared to give steadiness to the frame, 

 and enabled the machine to bo backed readily. The cutting was very even 

 though hardly low enough, and the points occasionally clogged. Knife 

 cuts 4 ft. 



Burgess and Key, No. 2016, a new implement, which contains several 

 improvements, the most noticeable being that the connecting rod is neai'ly in 

 a line with the knife ; this arrangement is rendered possible by having all the 

 gear work, the crank shaft, and the connecting-rod packed up in a small 

 compass, and placed very near the ground, so as to traverse the narrow track 

 cleared by the track-board during the preceding bout. Generally speaking it 

 is necessary in order to prevent clogging to place the crank shaft considerably 

 higher than the knife, and the angiilar thrust of the connecting rod is attended 

 with some friction. The knife bar is flexible, the machine is very light, and, 

 as will be seen, the draft moderate. The work was defective for two reasons, 

 the finger points were too short and thick, so that the dead grass continually 

 caught on these points and blocked the knife, and the whole machine appeared 

 deficient in rigidity. The knife rose and jumped in its work and left an 

 uneven bottom. We commend this machine for its ingenuity, and moderate 

 price, but we much fear that in heavy difficult crops it is too light to do well. 

 We may notice that the low position of the crank shaft, &c., did not once 

 cause the machine to clog, and that this arrangement may be regarded as good. 



Saviuelsoii's, No, 3, a new implement, was not successful. As with the 

 last, the dead grass continually choked the knife. It is a well-made machine, 

 somewhat novel in arrangement and construction. The frame is of iron, so 

 arranged that the bearings carrying each of the shafts form a part of the frame, 

 and are not bolted on in the usual manner. By this means the shaking loose of 

 bolts and nuts is avoided; but, on the other hand, there is an increased 

 risk that, through the breakage of some insignificant part, a large portion of 

 the machine may be damaged. The cutting-bar is hinged for cutting on side- 

 ling ground, and attached to the frame in front of the driving-wheels. The 

 apparatus for lifting the cutting-bar is simple and ingenious, consisting of a 

 lever, standing uj) in front of the driver's foot, to be pressed if necessary. 

 Similarly the machine is put in and out of gear by a movement of the foot, 

 and the mower is thus under perfect control, whilst the attention of the driver 

 is not taken from his horses. A strong spring fixed to the pole eases the 



