1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARISIER. 



305 



THE UrJIOKT MO-WirrO MACHI]SrE 



This Machine was introduced to a limited de- 

 gree, last year, and in accordance ■with our custom 

 of giving our readers such information as is in our 

 power in regard to new implements for forward- 

 ing farm labor, we publish the above cut, and give 

 a plain description of the Union Mower. 



The machine weighs about 550 pounds, sets 

 upon two driving wheels, either one of which op- 

 erates the knives when the machine is in motion. 

 Inside of the circumference of the driving wheel 

 is a smaller ring, furnished with cogs upon its in- 

 ner side, Avhich cogs act upon a pinion at the end 

 of the shaft, passing from one wheel to the other. 

 On the shaft nearly under the seat, is another 

 wheel, with cogs upon its side, by means of 

 which motion is communicated to the crank shaft 

 which carries the knife bar. The machine is 

 throM'n out of gear by a simple arrangement wliich 

 can be operated either by the foot or hand of the 

 driver, and the whole finger bar, with knives and 

 all, can be lifted by means of the lever in front of 

 the driver's seat, so as to pass any obstruction. 

 There is a hinge at the heel of the finger bar, al- 

 lowing it to be lifted into an upright position, 

 where it is held by a little catch of iron, in 

 which position the machine can be drawn along 

 the road or from field to field. The knife bar, in- 

 stead of sliding upon the sui-face of the finger bar, 

 is slightly raised from it, being supported at four 

 or five points by narrow pieces of steel secured to 

 the foce of the finger bar, — thus lessening the fric- 



tion, — and the inner face of the fingers is made of 

 steel. The general appearance of the machine is 

 very much like the AVood Mower, and its weight 

 is about the same. Of course it has points of dif- 

 ference, or it could not be patented. 



Of the working qualities of the Union Mower 

 we are unable to speak, as we have never seen it 

 in operation. It deserves, as 'does every machine, 

 a careful examination, and it will take just that 

 position in the estimation of the public which it is 

 entitled by its merits to occupy. No one should 

 purchase an article so costly and of so much im- 

 portance as a mowing machine, without carefully 

 setting the question in his own mind of the rela- 

 tive value, ybr his use, of the various machines now 

 before the public. The Union is advertised in our 

 columns, and our readers are referred to the ad- 

 vertisement of the manufacturers for full particu- 

 lars 



Weight of Manure. — A solid foot of half- 

 rotted manure will weigh, upon an average, 56 

 pounds. If it is coarse or dry, it will averaj^e 48 

 pounds to the foot. A load of manure, or 36 cu- 

 bic feet, of first quality, will Aveiiih 2.016 pounds; 

 second quality, 1,728 pounds. A\'cight to the acre 

 — eight loads of first kind, weighing IG.l 28 pounds, 

 will give 108 pounds to each square rod, and less 

 than 2.J pounds to each square foot. Five loads 

 will give 63 pounds to the rod. An acre contain- 

 ing 43,560 square feet, the calculations of pounds 

 per foot, of any quantity per acre, is easily made. 

 —Plow. 



