180 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, ' 
About Sun-Dials : Again. 
Since the publication of our article on Sun-di¬ 
als, in the Jan. No., we have received numerous 
letters from subscribers touching the same gen¬ 
eral subject. Some of these letters ask for fur¬ 
ther information on the construction of dials, 
while others bring us information bearing on this 
point ; some inquire for mottoes or inscriptions 
for dial plates, while others contain such mottoes. 
The following communication by Mr. W. Con¬ 
rad, Somerset Co., Pa., gives a pretty clear idea 
of the method by which the hour lines may be 
marked on the horizontal Sun Dial, described in 
our previous article, and which is most gener¬ 
ally in use. 
“ Draw a straight line of indefinite length as 
ADE which we may call the meridian line. At 
the point A, draw the perpendicular FG, which 
will be the 6 o’clock line. From the point A 
draw the line AB, making an angle with AC, 
equal to the degrees of latitude of the place: 
thus for a place 40° north latitude, the angle 
CAB must be 40°. Now draw the line BD at right 
angles with AB. Take a space DE on the mer¬ 
idian line, equal to BD, and draw the quadrant 
DEH, with the radius DE, and erect the per¬ 
pendicular Dd Divide the quadrant into 6 equal 
spaces and carry the dividing lines out to the 
perpendicular Dd, as seen at Ea, Eb, Ec, Ed. 
From the points of intersection on the perpendicu¬ 
lar, Dd, draw the lines aA, bA, cA, dA, etc., these 
form the hour lines for the forenoon; the 7 
o’clock line is not fully drawn out, to save space. 
Draw the afternoon lines Al, A2, A3, etc., at 
the same angles with the corresponding lines 
All, A10, A9, etc., on the other side of the 
meridian line. The 4, and 5, morning hour lines, 
and 7 and 8 afternoon lines, are obtained by ex¬ 
tending the lines 4, 5, and 7, 8, on the opposite 
tide of the 6 o’clock line. 
Now if we take a circle, marked with hour lines 
as described, lay it perfectly level, with the meri¬ 
dian (12 o’clock line) running exactly north and 
south, and set up the triangle ABC perpendicu¬ 
lar to the plane of the circle, the shadow cast 
from its edge will fall upon the several lines at 
the times indicated.” 
To construct a dial with exact accuracy re¬ 
quires much skill, but with a little painstaking, 
any one handy with tools could get up a very re¬ 
spectable instrument by following the above dia- 
giam and explanation. First mark out a pattern 
of the circle with its lines and the triangle, upon a 
large sheet of drawing paper, and 
it can then be worked out of tin 
plate or other common material. 
The heavy mark on the meridian 
line in the diagram extending 
from A to the edge of the circle, 
shows where the base of the tri¬ 
angle or “ gnomon ” is to be fast¬ 
ened. The latitude of the place 
can be obtained from maps, or in 
most places, some nautical friend 
will furnish it from observation 
with the proper instrument. 
A subscriber who modestly 
omitted to sign his name, but 
whose letter (he will pardon us 
for saying,) is post-marked I.a- 
fargeville, N Y., sends us a large 
budget of mottoes appropriate for 
Sun-dials. We select several of 
the best: 
A very sensible man, with a re¬ 
fined mind, caused to be painted 
on the dial of his city residence, 
two figures, one personifying 
Work, the other Rest, with the following words 
which relate to the hours: u Plures labori, dulcibus 
queedam oliis," which maybe rendered, “Many 
hours to labor, a few to pleasant leisure.” 
On the dial ofhis country-house was written : 
“ Bum fugit umbra, quigsco," which may mean, 
“ r stand still, while the shadow moves.” Or it 
may be translated more freely thus : “A wise 
man enjoys the quiet of retirement, as the shad¬ 
ow of this world passes away.” 
Upon the sun-dial of Chantilly, near Paris, was 
inscribed this motto : “ Una dabit, quod negat 
altera." Rendered into English, thus: “One 
gives, what the other denies.” That is, as we 
suppose, Providence sends us good and had, bright 
hours and dark. 
Here is another good one, from Horace : “ Bo la 
pmsentis rape laetus horae." “Take joyfully 
whatever the present hour brings.” 
And this: “ Utari preesenti, memor ultima." 
Which done into English, runs : “ Make use of 
the present hour, remembering the last hour.” 
For reasons which will be obvious to a careful 
reader, we think this might be improved by the 
following alteration : “ Fruere preesenti, non im- 
rnemor ultima." Translated thus : “ Enjoy the 
present hour, not unmindful of the last.” 
Here is a good one : “ Lc del esl ma rhgle," 
Or, “ Heaven is my rule.” 
Another : “ Me lumen, vos umbra regit." Or, 
“ I am ruled by the light, you by the shadow.” 
Another : “ Dubia omnibus, ultima multis." Or, 
“The present hour, uncertain to all, is the last one 
to many.” 
Several others : “ Suprema htec multis, forsan 
tibi .” Rendered, “ This hour is the last to many, 
perhaps to you.” 
“ Latet ultima." Rendered, “ The last hour is 
hidden.” 
“ Umbra transitur est tempus nostrum." Ren¬ 
dered, “ Our life is like a shadow that passeth 
away.” 
“ Dies mei sunt umbra declinaverunl." Render¬ 
ed, “ My days are like a shadow that declineth.’’ 
From such a variety of mottoes, it would seem 
that every taste might be gratified. The sixth, as 
altered, suits our taste, and is on our Dial. 
--— — ♦ —--- 
A “ progressive ” suggests that in this age of 
improvements, old Father Time should be repre¬ 
sented with a Yankee clock in his hand, and 
seated on a steam mowing machine Was he 
thinking of railroad disasters'! 
Cutting Grass and Grass Cutters. 
The grass is now growing rapidly on the lawn, 
around the borders, upon the “ bleaching plat,’ 
and along the edgings of the flower beds. It does 
not look as well after attaining much hight, and 
where it overhangs the paths, loaded with drops 
of dew or of recently fallen rain, often prevents 
the enjoyment of a stroll at the pleasantest time 
of the day, when everything invites by its fresh¬ 
ness. 
The turf always has the finest appearance soon 
after cutting, or when the grass is two or three 
inches high, of a dark green color, with a fine 
thick velvety growth. To keep it in this con¬ 
dition, frequent cutting is necessary as often, at 
least, as every other week. For large grounds, a 
lawn grass-cutter is frequently used. It is drawn 
by a horse, or by men pulling upon ropes at¬ 
tached to it. These are expensive, costing $35 
to $45 for small hand sizes, and $75 to $125 for 
larger horse machines. In using them, the grass 
is forced by dull revolving knives, or feeders, 
against a stationary sharp blade at the bottom. 
They leave a very pretty even surface, but the 
cost is such as to preclude their general use. 
The common scythe, or one of rather short 
length, is more frequently used in mowing the 
lawn. In the hands of a skillful workman, a very 
even surface is left, but it requires some care not 
to cut too closely, as the sun burns and injures 
the roots if left entirely unprotected. After the 
mowed grass is raked off, which should always be 
done as soon as it is cut, the ground may be gone 
over again, to pare down any uneven spots. 
For ordinary village and city grass plats, a 
common grass hook, as shown above, is quite 
sufficient. It is a sharp, sickle shaped piece of 
steel, fastened m a short wooden handle, and can 
be purchased at agricultural and seed stores for 
37 to 62 cents, according to the size and quality. 
The grass is cut by striking it quickly with the 
hook. A little practice is necessary before one 
can cut fast and evenly. An expert will leave 
the surface behind him very true and smooth. 
The knife should be ground frequently, and only 
used w’hen quite sharp. We have frequently used 
a hook of**this kind to pare the rough portions of 
the lawn after the scythe. It can also he em¬ 
ployed to good advantage in cutting weeds in a 
neglected garden. 
For grass edgings the garden shears are often 
used, and though cutting with them at first seems 
a very laborious operation, by a little practice it 
is performed quite easily and rapidly. The grass 
can be left at any desired hight, and there is no 
difficulty in clipping it evenly. They are only 
used on narrow borders, and along the edges of 
the flower beds where caution is needed. Even 
in these places a grass hook will answer. The 
garden shears are of different sizes, with steel 
blades and wooden handles, and cost $1 to $2 or 
more per pair. They are also kept at the agricuk 
tural, horticultural, and seed stores. 
