CAS SELL'S' 



DICTIONARY OF PRACTICAL 



GARDENING. 



VOLUME II. 



TTAWN MOWERS. 



I J The mowing machine is indispensable in 



every garden, no matter whether the grass 

 comprises many acres or whether it be represented by 

 a strip or plot a few feet wide. There are almost 

 innumerable " makes" of machines, differing from 

 each other not only in size and matters of minor 

 construction, but in their suitability for working 

 upon different gradients. The general principle of 

 working consists of having a broad, flat blade the 

 " sole plate" or " ledger plate" fitted horizontally 

 fo that it lies flat upon the grass. 'Spirally twisted 

 blades, arranged in a " barrel " or cylinder, are 

 brought with a forward turning motion so that 

 their cutting edges work against the ledger plate, 

 and the cutting is done between them. There are 

 various methods of making the cutting blades 

 revolve. In many machines they are connected by 

 a series of cog wheels with rollers at the back of 

 the machine. These rollers, or " drums " as they 

 are technically called, are set in motion by the 

 wliole machine being pushed forward, so that the 

 motive force is applied exactly as in a garden 

 roller. The " chain and wheel " system, employed 

 in not a few machines, is a modification of the cog 

 wheels. Its advantages are great durability, ease 

 of working, and decreased weight, but there is the 

 danger of the chain slipping off the cogs when it is 

 very loose and the machine is working on a slope. 



The ledger plate can be raised or lowered at 

 will so as to give a very close or a light cutting. 

 The older machines had to be turned over to adjust 

 the ledger plate ; in the newer ones this is done by 

 a special screw adjustment. Other improvement's 

 consist of ribbed instead of plain rollers, and these 

 give a better hold on sloping ground. In some of 

 the modern machines, the blades are twisted in 

 two directions, the result being that the cut grass 

 is thrown into the centre of the collecting box 

 fixed in front of the cutters, and the cuttings are 

 more cleanly picked up. Collecting boxes are 

 fitted to most machines, although they are not 

 essential. To facilitate the balancing of the 

 machine, and also to conduce to easy working, 

 rollers are fixed in front as well as behind. When 

 mowing machines are being moved from place to 

 place upon their own rollers, the drums and cogs 

 should be disconnected, so that the revolutions of 

 the rollers do not affect the cutting blades. In 

 the case of long distances, however, it is advisable 

 to lift the machine into a cart and transport it 

 thus. 



For small lawns a 10" machine, that is, one the 

 length of whose cutters is 10", is large enough for 

 all purposes. The difficulty of draught increases, 

 of course, with the size and weight of the machine. 

 Thus a 20" will need a man to push, and a boy to 

 31 



pull. For the bigger ones used on large lawns and 

 cricket grounds, horse power is usually employed. 

 Well-trained horses may be . driven, but it is well 

 to have a boy to lead the horses. Steam power is 

 occasionally employed, and petrol motors may be 

 expected to supersede horses. 



All mowing machines must be kept scrupulously 

 clean and thoroughly oiled. A few small stones in 

 the machinery will soon do damage out of all pro- 

 portion to the value of the time involved in occa- 

 sionally overhauling the working parts. Careful 

 housing in a dry shed in winter is also necessary, 

 as well as a thorough overhauling. 



Not a few gardeners prefer to use the scythe 

 upon young lawns, and early in the season, as they 

 hold that the close cutting by the machine is 

 injurious at this stage. The danger is removed by 

 setting the ledger plate up high, and giving two 

 light cuttings instead of a close one. In hot 

 weather also, close cutting must be avoided, for if 

 the tender roots of the grass are laid bare many 

 ugly dead patches will result. Edge-clippers are 

 occasionally seen in use, although up to the present 

 they have not been altogether a success. They 

 must have a plumb, clean verge to work upon, and 

 a hard bottom, free from loose stones. They are 

 difficult to guide straight, or to work round sharp 

 curves. 



LAWNS. 



The grass lawn is an indispensable feature of all 

 gardens. It may vary in size from a few feet 

 to hundreds of yards in length ; it may be of any 

 shape, and its surface may be level or sloping. As 

 a rule the spot chosen is in close proximity to the 

 house, and there is no doubt that, if the turf be 

 properly kept, there is no better setting for any 

 style of architecture. 



The expanse of grass may be varied at the will 

 of the owner, by cutting in it flower beds of various 

 sizes and shapes, and by planting specimen trees 

 here and there, but it is well to remember that it ; 

 is very easy to cut, too many flower beds as a rule' 

 small beds and intricate designs, with narrow grass 

 paths, should be avoided. Moreover, large trees 

 are not to be recommended, although those of neat 

 habit are permissible. 



Though the routine of mowing, manuring, water- 

 ing, and rolling is of the first importance in 

 keeping up the appearance of a lawn, it is imper- 

 atively necessary that it be carefully made in the 

 first place. Stagnant, water-logged soil encourages 

 moss and weeds, which choke the finer Glasses, 

 therefore on such soils drainage must be provided. 



The soil should bo rich in plant food, especially 

 that of a nitrogenous character. It is well, there- 

 fore, to give the intended site a heavy dressing of 



