304 



NEW ENGLAND FAmiER. 



July 



THE BUCKEYE MOWING- MACHIKE. 



Some two years ago we saw this mowing ma- 

 chine in use, and although under quite unfavora- 

 ble circumstances, thought we could see that it 

 possessed important merits. On the occasion to 

 which we refer, it cut an acre of grass in about 

 forty minutes, and did the work well. The horses 

 •which were attached to it at first, had been driven 

 several miles the same morning, which was one 

 of the hottest of the season, and one of them 

 broke down and had to be removed, and another 

 supplied before the acre was half cut. There 

 seemed to be no difficulty with the machine. It 

 was put into heavy clover, where it turned a dou- 

 ble swath very handsomely, and as rapidly as any 

 reasonable person could desire. 



Learning that one of these machines had been 

 brought into town by our neighbor, George M. 

 Barrett, Esq., we went to look at it on Satur- 

 day last. Its mechanical execution is certainly 

 of the first order, so that purchasers will not be 

 vexed by its tumbling to pieces by fair usage, 

 while it is made with so much care, and of such 

 good material, as to prevent its breaking, unless 

 by a most unreasonable blow. It is not intended 

 that it shall cut down either granite or wooden 

 gate posts, apple trees, or hassocks over three feet 

 in diameter ! 



We learn that this machine is still constructed 

 upon the original principles which were first in- 

 troduced in it, and that very little change has 



ever been made in its minor details. The princi- 

 ples claimed for it are : 



1. In having two driving wheels, which sup- 

 port the whole weight of the frame, gearing and 

 driver, giving it nearly double the power of a 

 machine which has but one driving wheel. By the 

 use of two driving wheels operating together or in- 

 dependently, short turns can be made to the right 

 or left, without clogging or stopping the knives. 



2. In having no cog gearing in the driving 

 wheels. The gearing is permanently arranged 

 near the centre of the frame, at a proper distance 

 from the driving-wheels, and driven by pawls and 

 ratchets, thus avoiding any tendency of being 

 clogged by mud or dirt. 



3. By the use of pawls and ratchets two 

 ground-wheels can be used to drive the knives. 

 In backing, the gearing is not put in motion ; 

 consequently the knives do not vibrate. 



4. It has a double-hinged Jinger -bar, so that on 

 quite uneven ground, the finger or cutting-bar 

 plays loosely, and independent of any other part 

 of the machine. That is, the knives ybZZojo the 

 surface of the ground, without being affected by 

 the working of the frame. 



5. It has a folding-bar. In going to or from 

 the field, a boy twelve years of age can, without 

 removing a bolt or screw, fold the finger-bar over 

 on top of the frame, so that it may be moved miles 

 without loading it upon a wagon. 



