Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-15
THE CITY.
E'rinIos Mowers at Belle Meade.
Interesting Occasion.
IN CLOVER.

\ Pursuant 70 previous notice the trial Of
mowers came off at Gen. Hardines mac
| nificent farm, ''Belle Meade, six miles
from the city on the Nashville and North
western Railroad, yesterday. On reaching
the grounds, at near IL o'clock, We found
that quite a crowd had gathered, many
going IN private conveyanees and others bY
the railroad. The day was as delightful as
could have been wished, brisk south
| western breeze blowing over the sweet
| scented clover, and rustIing the leaves and
boughs of the forest oaks with music, with
clear and eloudless sky overhead. In q
large clover field Of forty acres, around
which circles the mile race course, a goodly
number of the contesting machines were
rigged and hitched, and moving down the
grass at vigorous and rapid rate. Tho
clover in the field where the trial was being
made was veryrank and luxuriant, and had
been considerably blown by recent winds
and storms. The ground was also
very soft and heavy, which was
the principal drawback to the working
wlth celerity of tho machines. The chances
being equal however, no complaint or OBJ
lection could be urged Tho President,
the committee, the representatives, and
drivers Of machines, were assiduously en-
gagged in the business before them. jolly
faced Gen. Frank Cheatham led the van
and worked like Trojan, and seemed as
much at home as when he marshaled his
victorious yetrans in the war Of battle.
Gen. Harding was prince Of a cour-
teous, digniied, ar1iable, and hospitabie
Tennessee gentleman, as he is.
Among the guests we noticed Gov. Senter
and (nor, f1,-,,a-l-- - - kr-E
now of Raleigh, N. @.
A number OF ladies, with their gallant
escorts, engaged in the shades Of some
umbargious oaks, formed q pleasing en-
bellishment to the picture. The charms of
either of the ladies' present outyied these
of Ruth, who went a cleaning among the
harvesters Of the olden time.
The forenoon was devoted to trial as
mowers, of the combination machines
whose capacities as reapers and mowers
were tested last week. The competition
was lively and spirited. After several houIs
had passed and good space of ground had
been scraped OF the grass, those in attend
ance were invited to the cool and shaded
spring to partake Of the repast which had
been so sumptuously prepared by Gen. II.
for the occasion. Roast lamb and every.
variety of meats were furnished in abun-
dance and prepared in the very best style.
Wines and beverages, with ices and minis,
etc, were afforded with prodigal hand.
An hour was passed at the dinner, which
was enjoyed with high relish by all After
dinner the teams we're again hitched and
the trial of the machines resumed exclu.
sively as mowers. AL the machines did
well and the moving was excellent, the
ground being cleanly shaved and the work
being done with celebrity we have never
seen equalled. Among the machines COM
peting we noticed the Woods patent, rep
resented in the city by Mr.. Horton; the
Clipper, represented by Messrs- T.
b. Jones & Co.; the Climax,
and the Acme represented by w. w.
Tatten, the Etna by t. w. Weller, the
Buckeye by Messrs. Hamilton & Gun
and the Excelsior by ]. II.
Paul. So far as we are capable of judg-
ing with our limited knowledge of
mechanism and agriculture, these are oil
excellent machines, and do their work
admirably. There were between twelve
and fifteen acres of clover moYn yester-
day during the trial.
The performances, draft, stoppages,
construction of machines, ETC., were all
carefully noted by thoroughly competent
and impartial judges, and the awards will
be made to-day.
The occasion was very pleasant one,
and will be long remembered by those
present who enjoyed the competition and
the princely hospitalities of the proprietor
of Belle Meade.