AUTOMATC APPLE GRADER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 8

AUTOMATC APPLE GRADER.

AN INGENIOUS CONTRIVANCE. A very ingenious machine was exhibited at tho Sydney: fruit Exchange tho other day by a Tasmanian fruit-grower, Mr. E. Wagg. Tho machine is intended to grade apples into six different sizes, and its most important feature is that it works automatically by gravitation. The idea is one which Mr. Wagg states- has been successfully tried in his own orchards ill Tasmania. The machine, which occupies a spaco about Gft. by 4ft., by sft. (iin. in height, consists of an iron frame, in which (hero is a large wooden cylinder, across which there are rows of diamond-shaped holes. Under each of these holes there is a receptacle into which the i'rnit falls as it is fed over the revolving cylinder by a feed drum, which is situated in a large hopper sloping down to the edge of the cylinder. All that is necessary is to give the machine a start with the hand, and the fruit is forced both by the feed drum and by gravitation on to the grading cylinder, the fruit being kicked on to the revolving drum in front by two small rubber-cased uprights. It then falls into the different holes, and is carried forward. As soon as the fruit falls through tho holes in the cylinder, the receptacles containing it'commence to revolve gradually in the opposite direction to the cylinder. This is so operated that by the time it reaches a certain point the fruit in each receptacle will fall out into a particular tray, according to its size. The automatic shifting backwards of the receptacles gradually reduces tho size of each hole, so that the fruit will not fall out until it reaches the proper point. After discharging ifs contents, tho cylinder comes roiind again to the starting pointj and so the prooess goes on. Mr. Wagg claims that the machine will grade 80 cases of apples in ail hour.

Tho auctioneers -wish to draw the attention of Holstein breeders and fanciers to the sale of Holstein bulls which they are conducting, on account of Mr. F. J. Johnston, Hawera, at tho Fcilding Show Grounds, on Wednesday. February 7, the second day of the show. The five-year-old bull "Sir Beau de Kol" was bred by Mr. Newton King, and has won a number of first prizes at Egmont, Stratford, and Taranaki Metropolitan shows. Tho yearling bull "J.-or do Kol," bred by* the vendor, comes of exceptionally high record stock, and is'undoubtedly a coming champion. Note: Hour and dato of sale, 11.30 a.m., Wadnesda.v, February 7. Dalgctv and Company, Ltd., auctioneers, Falinerston North.

In digging for the foundation of a new building in San Francisco recently the rotting timbers of a ship were exposed rtii vic.v. , This was evidently 'not a prehistoric vessel, but a relic "of 'Jfi, that had been beached and used as a lodginghouse. In the height of the gold fever almost every vessel that ventured into the harbour of San Francisco was imniediat'hdeserled by its crew, eager to join in tYo mad rush for the goldfiehls. The old hulk in question was probably one of these abandoned ships.