Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-07-23

AsnrApuLA Co., South End, july ! 80.

week, one on the 7th inst, in Cherry Valley, on
the farm Of MoRRls KELLOGG, Esq. under the
direction Of the County Agricultural Society
the other at Orwell on the 9Th, under the direc-
tion Of the Orwell Township Society, one mile
north Of the Center At each of these trials
machines we're ont in formidable array
At Orwell we had the ancient Mccormick
provided with an extra seat, which seemed to
invite to an old fashioned ride behind -
The Heath, rather excelling in flourish. The
resolue and perseverng Ketchum, and its pony,
Zone horse mower.) The humble and unpre-
tending Tinker. The showy Ball. or Ohio
Mower, and its half brother, Aultmans Buck
eye, both of which look somewhat as if design
ed to do the "cnrting." The dwarish Fisher.
The modest Allen. The little buggy-like Hub
bard. and its very remote relative, theKirby.
Each of these in kind was at Cherry Valley,
except the Mccormick, Heath and Kirby.
The ground in Cherry Valley was we'll chos-
en-, failing only in grass which did not exist in
sufficient quantity TO be much of trial of the
relative merits of the machines, and 20 one ap-
peared to fail of doing good work.
At Orwell it was different The ground was
last seasons stubble, which had not been rolled
down-with a light sod and an occasional stone,
most Of which the Machines were able to find
with deep "dead burrows" about 30 feet part.
and was moved across the burrows, as if to
show that it was possible to do such thing
But it was accomplished with less difficulty than
might be supposed, by those unacquainted with
their operations or management. A 'corkman
in moving would generally work lengthwisc
No machine could work on this ground any
length Of time but to its injury. The sharp
banks of the furrow. with the imperfect sod,
would cause the guards and blades to catch
more or less dirt in rising out Of the burrows,
which must soon dull them, so as to be unfit to
do good work. Here the grass was not very
abundant, but most of the Machines proved to
be capable of cutting what there was in a work.
manlike manner.
Commencing with the lower grade in point of
workmanship, we noticed the Mccormick,
which doubtless would have shown itself much
more at home in field of grain The Heath
did little better, but the work was not well
done-can see no reason why-with one or two
improvements, this machine should not work
we'll.
The performance of the Kirby was an inl-
provement over the Others, yet failed to gain
general admiration. The cutter bar, with its
attaphmants dro oo hoo y;I, oud :, 18Th. Ill
to manage-and in heavy grass, meets with some
difficulties.
The Fisher did not appear to quite come up
to the general expectation in its performance,
yet its work was fair under the circumstances
aud much confidence appeared to be manifested
that it would prove valuable.
Now comes the tug of war" The remain
ing machines, each Of which had admirers, land
each may be said to have some preference over
its fellows) did excellent work under the circum-
stances and the test was all that could be desir-
ed-minus sufficient burden of grassland
each machine probably exceled others in some
point, in the perfection of its work.
The Hubbard and Others might excel il
Smoothness of cut by reason of their .,ipb GEAR
ing and narrow clip-presenting more of a shay
en- like surface, where the grass was fine.
The perfection of workmanship is frequently
decided upon this point, especially by those un-
acquainted with different machines. High gear
ing has its objections as well as advantages.-
An excess of gearing occasions waste of pow
er, with additional loss in the ,cear and tear Of
machinery.
The Ohio Mower and Buckeye are each simi-
lar in their structure, both doing good work
the Ohio rather excelng but was better work
ed-the Buckeye complaining of bad team
both are uniformly called good mowers
The Ketchum and Pony each gained the u.s.
ual credit of doing up the work in first rate
style, and elected general commendation.
The Tinker appeared to show itself to much
better advantage than was expected by those
unacquainted with its operations, showing itself
as one of the first class Its simplicity of con-
struction, ease of draft, and management, with
the perfection of its work and economy in price,
must make it one of the most desirable of ma
chimes. In many Others, the operation of the
ever raises the cutter bar, without turning up
the points Of the guard but with this, a slight
force upon the lever raises the points to any de-
sired elevation, enabling it to run over any un-
evenness or obstruction without interfering with
Its motion, and by changing pin, the points
are run steadily at any desired elevation, still
allowing greater one with the lever as occa-
sion may require. This Machine was operated
at Cherry Valley with pony of about $50 lbs.
weight, showing it to be the thing for anu. one
horse farmer. 1t was thought that the man
from the Cleveland Agricultural Works paid
just compliment TO the Tinker Agent, when he
was heard to say, You have got rood ma
chine" And The Tinker man might have very
properly reciprocated the favor in regard to the
Hubbard On trial with a slow motion of
team, these two machines excelIed, the Tinker
falling in the rear
1t may now be considered fact" that Ash.
tabula County can supply her farmers with a
first rate Machine.
This scratch vnu NAV thinL ratbar Iono,b,