Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-07
Trial of Moving Machines,

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action.
Trial of Moving Machines,
new era, we believe, among Ten. Agri
ouIturists, was inaugurated on Wednesday last
In point of Importance nothing has ever trans.
pired, in which the farmers of this State were
Interested that can claim just comparison
We believe so for reasons which we shall pre-
sently show. Although this was simply trial
of Moving Machines, it plainly exhibited the
vast Importance of the use of such implements
to the farmer in harvesting both hay and graf n.
The geographical position aud remote and
isolated location of Tennessee, with few and
uncertain modes of REORGANIZATION and
transportation heretofore, has compelled her
agriculturists to coRfne themselves to very
limited diversity of crops. Happily these
difficulties have been, 10 great extent, over
come; avenues of transportation have been
opened to her people, and those engaged in
farming pursuits can now turn their attention
to the cultivation of products to which the
climate and soil is better adapted and which
yield better profit. The experience Of the
past year has shown, even with those disad-
vantages which always attend an experiment,
that grain, grass and stock are the most profit
aole and natural products of the State. Ten
nessee wheat commands from to 10 cents
more in New York than that of any other
State; the various grasses grow as luxuriantly
here as elsewhere the improved stock is equal
ly as fine here, as in any section of the country,
and in few short years the means of trans
portion to the great commercial marts of the
country will give our people all the advantages
possessed, in this particular, by other States.
In view of these facts, it is the duty and the
interest of farmers to avail themselves of those
beneficial improvements in farming, to save
labor, lessen expense increase dispatch, raise
the most on their lands and save it in the best
manner. And it is particularly gratifying to
witness the interest which many Of our best
and most practical agriculturists take in this
matter. One of these gentlemen, living in the
vicinity of this cityan noted for his enterprise
in stock and grain raising, remarked to Us that
he would rather have lost one of his best horses
than not to have been at the moving trial on
Wednesday. We now come to the exhibition.
The day was most propitiOus, and a very re-
spectacle number of persons were in attendance
many of them being farmers from Maury,
Williamson, Summer, Stewart, Montgomery,
Giles, Rutherford and other counties. The No
ing machines on the ground were, Manrys,
Mann's. Ketchum's and Atkins. Others were
entered, but did not arrive. An acre Of clover
as near as could be ascertained, by step inca
surement, was assigned to each, and swath
cut by the several machines, laying of the land
for each one to cut down. But two of them
started at q time, in order TO give the judges
sn opportunity to notice each one particularly.
Mannys and Mann's machines commenced at
signal given, the former drawn by fine pair
of horses, the "ribbons" in the hands of Gen.
b. F. Cheatham, aud the latter drawn by
pair of Col. Johnson's fine mules, driven by
Mr.. A. Mann, son of the inventor. Gen.
cut his acre down in II minutes, and Mr.. NJ.
his in 81 minutes, the former accomplishing
his task in z rounds, and the latter in 6 rounds.
1t is proper to remark that the sickle bar in
Mannys machine is five feet in length, and that
in Msnn's, of the size used, is six. The grass
cut by the latter was, it is said, heavier than
any in the field.
The machines of Ketchum and Atkins then
started, the former managed by Mr.. Brokaw,
one Of the manufacturers, who labored under
some disadvantage on account of an unsteady
team; aud the latter by Mr.. /. Jewell, who
gained reputation as the manager of Atkins
Reaper aud Pitts Threasher at the W orld's
Fair, held at Paris in 1866, taking high honors
for both. The sickle bar in Ketchum's machine
is feet s inches in length, and that in Atkins
feet. The former had no person with it but
Mr.. B., aud cut the acre down in IS minutes,
and the latter using no reel, cut his acre down
ia SO minutes.
An acre was very properly left for the ma
chine of Deitz d. Durham, which was detain-
ed at the shoals. Ii would hardly be just, after
the expense and trouble of shipping machine
a thousand or more miles, to deny them "a
chance to try for the decision OF the judges,
aud those gentlemen with eommendable spirit
reserved Al acre for that purpose.
After the grass is all removed, an exsniinR.
ton of the stubble viii be had, 70 ascertain
which implement has cut The grass ID The best
manner. The drought upon the teasas is an
important item H. the decisiou also. and Of
course will receive due considerauof at the
hands Of the committee, who Sfe among the
most practical agriculuralists & 80 State.
Their report will be forthcoming az lle proper
time, aud We shall endeavor % lsy i before
our readers.
1t would evince a sorry lack q courtesy and
respect, did We tail TO speak of ibs hospitality
and attentions of Col. Johnsou, sho furnished
every possible facility 10 render BIS exhibition
very interesting and entireiy satisfactory in
all particulars.
The bounteous provision Of creature com
forls' spread under the rednndsni shade Of the
nne trees beside the clover dsld vas no ineon-
siderable or unexeepuonable isAture OF the day,
and il is hardly necessary o ssy that those
present did ample justice 10 ibe god things,s
thus admonislling Col. J, thar fhsy highly ap.
pseciate bis prosldvnt LladHes