Mowing is an operation generally performed by manual labour, by means
of that well-known instrument, the scythe (fig. 1), which is a long,
flat, curved blade of steel attached to a handle having a peculiar
bend, and with two short pieces of wood attached, by which the mower
swings it round with a measured sweep, cutting off the grass almost
close to the ground, walking gradually forward as he mows; but of
late years machines of various kinds have been invented and used
for this purpose. Fig. 2 represents one which not only mows, but at
the same time rolls the grass, so as to make it smooth and level.
It consists of a heavy iron roller turning a large wheel, which,
being united to a small one, causes it to revolve very rapidly. In
connection with the small wheel is a series of four spiral knives
wound round a cylinder, which cut off the grass close to the ground,
throwing it up into a box placed to receive it. There are several
varieties, but this is the kind made by Dray & Co., London, for
mowing short grass, as in gardens and lawns. Those used for cutting
long grass for hay, are exactly similar to the reaping machines.