Implement Shoic at Manchester. 
547 
BurpjGss and Key, No. 174, Prize of IZl. 
Samuelson & Co., No. 3934, hi;j;hly commended. 
A. C. Bamlett, No. 3968, commended. 
One-Horse Mowers. 
In this class nine competitors came into the trial-field and went through 
their trials ; but the only point we shall allude to in regard to the working of 
these machines is the draught. Although the grass upon which they were 
tried was liglit and easy to cut, being composed of rye-grass and other stemmy 
grasses, the distress of the powerful horses working the machines became such, 
in the space of ten or fifteen minutes, as to be apparent to the most casual 
observer. Among all the machines, Mr. Wood's worked with the greatest 
ease and probably with the liglitest draught. But even this in ordinary grass 
mowing would prove too much for a single horse to work sufficiently long at 
one time to be practically useful. 
What we have above stated will be more readily imderstood when it is 
explained that for half the horse-power reduced the cutter-bar is only shortened 
about one-sixth \ and in many cases the substitution of this one-sixth shorter 
knife-bar, with a shorter finger and section, is the only alteration made in con- 
verting a two-horse into a one-horse mower. We can only repeat what we 
stated in the Show-yard at the time of making our awards, " that we are of 
opinion that all the machines exhibited under the title of one-horse mowers 
are far too heavy in draught to be worked by one horse ; and we therefore, 
under Clause 3 of ovu: instructions, withheld the sum assigned for prizes in 
this class." 
Combined Eeaping and Mowing Machines. 
As the machines which competed in this class were in principle almost the 
same as those exhibited by the same makers as two-horse mowers, and in 
many cases were, in fact, the same machines, we need not here enter again 
into details of their working as mowers. 
As combined machines, they were, on the whole, useful implements, working 
satisfactorily both in the grass and in the rye. In some instances the machines 
were worked as reapers by one horse onlj', but in every case two horses were 
used for grass cutting. It may be easily understood that although the draught 
of a mower cutting 3 feet 9 inches in width of grass (which requires to be cut 
low, and is thick at the bottom) may be too heavy for one horse, yet a reaper 
cutting a moderate width, and from 3 to 4 inches from the ground, with the 
speed of knife reduced 25 per cent., may be easily worked by one. We pre- 
sume that these combined machines are intended to economize farm capital, 
and also to supply small occupiers, at a moderate cost, with a convertible 
implement adapted to cut both his grass and his corn. But it appears to us 
doubtful if in general farm practice there would be much economy in pur- 
chasing one of these, seeing that for an outlay of about 25 per cent, more 
money two separate and perfect machines may be had. Undoubtedly, there 
are many occupiers of small or medium-sized farms, who would gladly avail 
themselves of a machine which would accomplish both mowing and reaping at 
a saving in outlay of 9?. or lOl., and there are seasons when a large breadth of 
corn requires to be cut in haste, and a machine of this kind might be brought 
into requisition on large occupations. 
In making our awards we considered that one of the principal ends of 
machinery is the saving of manual labour, and we therefore gave the first 
place to the most perfect machine in the class, namely, to Messrs. Samuelson's 
No. 3940, a combined self-raking side-delivery in-sheaf machine. This 
worked exceedingly well, both in the grass and in the corn, and delivered the 
sheaf clear of the horse-track. I'he second place we gave to Messrs. Hornsby's 
