The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-22
Test Exhibition of Reapcrs and Mowers,

VS. HN"ip'ioh VI Reapcrs anu MOwerss
The second Annual Exhibition of Reapers
Mowers, under the auspices of the Ohio State
Board of Agriculture, took place at Wooster,
on Wednesday and Thursday. Col. MEpARY,
President of the Board; Hon. J. G. GEsT,
Secretary; and nearly all the members of the
state Board were present. A respectable
number OF the most intelligent and enterpris-
ing Agriculturalists from various portions Of
Ohio were in attendance, and several Tnven-
tors and Manufacturers of Agricultural n ple-
ments from abroad. The occasion was one
Of marked interest; the weather was fine, and
everything was conducted with fairness, good
feeling, and gentlemanly department. 1t is
to be regretted that much larger number of
farmers did not embrace the opportunity to
witness the test OF the abor-saving machines,
bu. the exceedingly busy season of the year
and the scarcity of field laborers prevented
many from attending The Reapers and
Mowers were all put to practical test in
different qualities of Wheat and Grass, each
cutting an acre in the several fields, thus af-
fording fine opportunity to witness their
operations and judge of their comparative
merits.
Five Reapers and four Mowers were enter
ed. the first prize being Gold Medal of the
value of $50. On Wednesday the exhibition
took place on the splendid farm of Mr.. STIBBs,
Immediately adjoining the town of Wooster.
The farm Of 224 acres is most beautifully To-
Gated on gentle elevation overlooking the
town and rich country adjacent, and is in a
high state of cultivation, Mr.. S. being not on
| ly practical but model farmer. His wheat.
very heavy, was considerably lodged, and put
the reaping Machines to hard test.-Thev
all cut the grain well, but none of them laid
the gravels or sheaves as even as desirable.
Even the lodged and tangled grain was pretty
we'll cut, quite as we'll as could have been
done with the common cradle, but in layinp
off by hand as well as by the Self Rakers, the
straw was good deal scattered, and required
close cleaning to prevent waste. The labor
in binding, however, was no greater, if as
great as following the cradle. Tho men
managing the Reapers appeared considerably
excited, most of the horses unused to the ma
chimes, and in hurry to cut an acre in the
shortest time, the work was more sloyenlv
performed than might have been done under
more favorable circumstances. The acres
were cut in from 81 TO AZ minutes each. but
the trial on the whole was not very satisfac
tory to The Judges and Farmers present.
The meadow of Mr.. STIBBs was mainly
timothy grass of the first seasons MOVING,
very tall and heavy, and affording a fine field
for the Moving Machines to operate in
KErcHUM's Patent led off, and cut its acre
well in 42 minutes. 1t worked without clog.
ging, cut the grass clean g. sufficiently close,
and left it evenly spread so as to require no
turning to cure perfectly. The Mower is
compact and strong, and weighs about $50
lbs. The strength the Machine was mt
to severe test in the meadow of Mr.. s. II
was drawn by herculean span of horses on
a rapid walk, and when in full motion the fin.
gers protecting the knives struck the point of
IA rock, solid in the ground with such force "a
to suddenly stop the team and hold them on a
second pull. Two of the fingers were slight.
bent, but not enough to prevent the contin-
ued use of the Mower. In another instance
the top of stump in the way of the machine
was literally cut off without injury to- the
knives. Manufactured at Buffalo; price SllO.
MANNY's Patent Mower cot the second acre
IN AZ mnu'eS His machine is an adjustable
Reaper and Mower, and took the first premium
OF so for moving at the great trial at Gene
va, N. Y, last season. 1t is a simple and
efficient machine. cutting the grass as well as
She sythe. and aviEg it in n good condition to
cure. Like KETcHUM's it works in nil kin q
OF grass, and with two horses and one person
VIII cut from ten to fifteen acres per day.
MANNY's machine is said to be the only sue
ceSsul combination of Reaper and Mower,
but the test at Wooster did not show the adj
Unstable machine to be equal to some sing le
Reapers and Mowers. As combined ma
chine for farmers who are not able to purchase
Reaper and Mower both, tits Just the thing.
Manufactured at Freport, ILL.,. price SI25.
CASTLES Patent Mower was next tested, and
tor the next few minutes worked beautifully.
1t cut evenly, close, and rapidly, but soon
clogged and began to slip over The knives
clip together ike shears, and seem liable 20
gum up and spring apart. 1t is an ingenious
simple geared, light Mower, and is said TO
work well on the plains about Urbana, the
place of manufacture. The machine was In.
ken from the ground before cutting its acre.
/ The Mower of ALLEN, MINTIER & Co. was
tested for few moments g. Withdrawn, owinp
to some defect
Thursday morning the Moving was re.
sumed on the grand farm of Mr.. RoBrNsos.
consisting of 4S0 acres, also beautifully loca-
ted on an eminence in full view of Wooster.
and overlooking great exte ent OF the choicest
agricultural country in Ohio. The good CON-
dition of the farm Of Mr.. r. is the best COM
mentary on his industry, enterprise, and skill.
The meadow selected has been in grass for
years, the bottom generally fine and thick,
in some portions clover, in others thin, wirv
grass. KETcHUm's Blower again led off, and
performed lis work to the satisfaction ofeyery-
body. The acre was cut in about hale an
hour. MASNY's Mower followed cutting the
acre in about the same time, and nearly as
well. CASTLES Mower again started admira.
bly,, but had to be stopped and tinkered often,
and had not completed its acre before the
judges, exhibitors and spectators adjourned to
the Reaper test. KETeHUM's Mower was
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