The Massey-Harns Cultivator

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 111, 7 November 1893, Page 2

The Massey-Harns Cultivator

A public trial of the above-named cultivator was held on Mr Percy Burrell's farm, Pot a tail, yesterday afternoon. The number of onlookers was rather small, and it is to be regretted that more farmers were not present, as this ingenious implement is fast coming into use among those who go in for cultivating, but it is necessary to see the machine at work before any idea can be formed of its capabilities. On first viewing the cultivator the general opinion is that it is too frail to do the work which it is credited with, but on closer inspection it is found that the manufacturers have combined strength with lightness of draught. To test the strength of it, the machine was first put into some stiff unbroken land, and, although it was never intended for breaking up purposes, the way in which it turned up the soil proved that it could be put to that use if needed. The cultivator was nest used on some newly ploughed light land, and afterwards on some very stiff land which had been turned over a few days, doing capital work in both instances. The springy nature of the teeth, which, like the whole of the machine, barring the woodwork, are composed of steel, have the effect of thoroughly pulverising the soil, especially when the machine is used in stubble land, and in that case grass seed can be sown after the implement baa once been over it. For excavating potatoes and turnips the cultivator is specially adapted, and in the case of the latter it roots them clean out of the ground, thus enabling the sheep to eat the whole of them, whereas otherwise a great portion of the turnip it left in the ground. A Canterbury farmer who bought a cultivator for the express purpose of pulling turnips, claims that he saved at much in one season through the increase of feed provided for the sheep as would pay for the machine. The cultivator is made in two different sizes, covering a stretch of either six or eight feet. The one tested yesterday was of the Bmaller size, and although two of Mr Burrell's fine horses worked it for a time, the machine really requires three, and in ordinary light soil they would walk away with it comfortably ; in the case of the 8 foot machine another horse is required. A great feature in the working of the cultivator is its simplicity, no particular skill being reqnired; and by adjusting a feed box which is provided with it, sowing and cultivating can be done at the same time. The machine was given a fair trial yesterday, and one and all who witnessed its performance were unanimous in the opinion that it was almost invaluable to farmers for certain purposes. The implement will be on view at the Palmereton Show. __________