‘TRIAL OF MOWING MACHINES

The rival Mowing Machines that have come into use within a few years, are being put to the test for the premiums of $600, offered by the State Agricultural Society, and $200 by the Essex County Society, for those that shall be able to preform the most and best work.  Yesterday a trial was made in Salem.  On account of the great crowd that have collected at other trials, no public notice was given, yet some two or three hundred people were on the field.  Six person were entered as competitors, with three separate patents, viz:–

… Horace Ware, Marblehead, Manny’s Machine…

The parties all have large farms with extensive mowing grounds, where they proved them. …  Horace Ware is one of the first and best farmers in the county. …

The ground selected was a level piece of mowing producing about two tons to the acre and about a quarter of an acre was allotted to each.  The completed the work in the order which we have arranged the names as follows:– The first in 20 minutes; 2d in 14; 3d in 20; 4th in 81; and 5th in 9; and 6th in 8 1/2.  The first was accidentally delayed several minutes; and the third had very spirited and somewhat unmanageable horses; and the second, who was the longest, may, upon the whole have been as successful as any of them.  At this trial they all had two horses and with the same team and machine on Saturday last, Mr. Ware mowed 10 acres in a little over seven hours.

We shall not attempt to describe the machines.  They may all have defects that will be remedied.  The most essential difference we noticed was that the cutters in Russell’s patent acted more fully as shears, and would seem to cut easier and better.  They all mowed as clean and close as could have been done by hand, and the poorest of them would be so great an improvement over the scythe, as to produce a perfect revolution in hay making.  The obvious advantages are, 1st, in the great saving of manual labor, one man being capable of preforming as much work as a dozen mowers; 2d, it enables persons, by cutting their grass in less time, to make hay when it will be best, and not have it injured by delay; 3d, it can as well be cut after the dew is upon it, and the hay can be made in shorter time; and 4th, by the grass dropping where it stood, instead of being thrown into swath, it saves (?) reading.–Newburyport Herald.”

Reference Data:

The New England Farmer, Vol. 7, 1855, page 391