The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-04-04
Lawn MaMin9 Machines.

1Am W u NhOW sss6 NAssthAAs~"e
One need not be very old to recollcct
when lawn mower was rarity; here
and there an imported machine was in
use, but those who had lawns, generally
cut the grass with scythe. We do not
know exactly when the first lawn mower
was made in this country, but the first
one we saw, and used, was in 1867, and
they cannot have been made many years
earlier. The development of this man
ufacture has been remarkable; several
establishments have sprung up for max
ing the machines, and the export trade in
them is very large. While the English
have made scarcely any improvements in
their machines, our manufacturers each
year find some point in which they can in
crease the excellence of theirs, and at the
present time, the mowers Of the best
makers are as near perfection as we can
expect to see in implements for the spe-
cial work of moving lawns. Our makers
boldly place their machines in competi-
ton in England, that country of fine lawns
and their superiority to the cumber-
some English machines has been so
marked, as TO overcome at once all ma
tional prejudiccs, and the testimony Of
the English horticultural Journals is not
only positive. but even enthusiastic in
favor of American lawn mowers. AS an
indication of their popularity in England,
we may mention that one house in Lon
lon has contract with one of our prom
inent makers, to supply themwith thou
sand machines yearly, for a term of years.
Large numbers of our machines go to the
continent of Europe, and recently con-
siderable orders have been received from
Australia. While we are gratifed at this
success of fan American manufacture
abroad and are glad that we can help make
the English lawns still more perfect, we
find still more satisfaction in the fact
that the perfection Of the lawn mower
has increased the number O. lawns at
home, by making it possible to keep them
in order without too great an expense OF
time and labor. At present there are few
places with IN expanse of grass OF suffi-
Gent extent to be called lawn, where
there is not o mower; indeed, SO easily is
the work done, and effective are these
machines, that it is no rare thing to find
those who have but mere city yard, clip
ping the grass with mower. Not only
has the number Of lawns increased with
in few years but their character il
wonderfully improved. For great
part of the season, frequent moving il
beneficial, and unless the lawn Is very
large, it Is merely pleasant exercise
TO run over it with the machine every
week. In parks and large places, the
surface is too great for the hand mower,
and to meet the needs of these, the man
ufacturers supply torse and pony ma.
chimes by which the work may be done
very rapidly. (which is the best lawn
mower!" is o question that is often asked
Some very puzzling questions arc put tc
us, and if asked. which is the best mower
and areper-which the best seed sower-
which the best sewing mnchine-ant
which the best lawn mower. we are oblig
ed TO say, I'VE do not know" Will
these machines, and others we NIGH
name, improvement has 80 followed i'm
pruvement, and several are SO near per
| feet, that If there is really any choice
between them, il Is founded upon differ
ences that are of NO great importance
Each person thinks the machine he has
the best, and so it is for him. as he has be
come thoroughly acquainted and under
stands its use. So in the case OF law
mowers VIC can not undertake to say
which is the best The two lawn-mOw
| ing machines TINT, taking the large mum
bers sold as an Indication, may be rcgal
ded rs the most popular, are the Exc .!
sior"and the s.Philadclphia." The Excel
sior' is made by the Cndborn & Coldwei
Manufacturing Company, at Newburg
NY, where they have a very EXTENSIVE
establishment deyoted to their produc
ton. They make four different sizes o
hand mowers, and several styles Of laTg
| machines, to be operated py horsepower
This, IL we mistake not, was the frs
machine in which the moving parts wei
covered, and the entrance, Of dust ami
other matters to tho gearing thus proven
ted. The makers claim for their machin
.sgreat simplicity and durability Tn
Excelsior" has remarkable popularit,
| in Europe. the demand for it in Euglap'
i and on the Continent being large and in
creasing.-Amevi team A grscultstrtst.