The Massey-Harris Cultivator.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 42, 15 August 1894, Page 2

The Massey-Harris Cultivator.

A trial of the Massey-Harris Cultivator was held yesterday morning at Messrs Leth bridge and Sons' property, Feilding. Owing, no doubt, to the fact that the weather looked threatening the attendance was not so large as the striking advantages of the implement deserved. Still, a number of people interested in agricultural farming keenly watched the machine at work. Amongst those present were Messrs W. H. Hartgill, A. Mangham, M. G. Richardson, J. Managh, and others ; also, Messrs Lethbridqe who so kindly placed their property at the disposal of the agents. The cultivator is an implement specially adapted to the working of fallow, stubble, and turnip land, and it was clearly shown as much work can be accomplished in a day with this implement, with four horses, as a double-furrow plough in three. The machine is simplicity itself, and is without doubt the most wonderful cultivating implement ever invented. Ky an ingenious arrangement two rows of steel teeth, or " tines," bent in the form of a half circle and pointed, ate attached to a powerful frame of angle iron, and they can be lowered at the will of the driver to the depth required. The soil cau thus be stirred to any depth desired, while the pressure is so skilfully applied that the " carriers," or sections holding the teetli, give when striking roots, stones, or other obstructions. Each section has four " teeth," with a steel shoe at the back to regulate the depth of ground desired to be turned ur>. Th» sections are independent of each other, thus enabling the machine to be worked successfully in ground of an uneven nature. The Company's expert*, Messrs Armstrong and Kirwin, were on the ground and had charge of tho machine, which was worked in a turnip paddock. Owing to the continuous wet weather the ground was very stitFand sticky, and consequently the test was a severe one. However, this capital implement worked in a manner that elicited warm praise from those present, and the trial was admittedly a most successful one. Mr Cooper, of Barraud and Abraham, the agents in the district for the MasseyHarris Company, was present at the trial.