Important to Farmers.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 57, 1 September 1894, Page 2

Important to Farmers.

SEED -CLEANING MACHINE. Yesterday we had the pleasure of watching at work a seed-cleaning machine which Messrs Barraud and Abraham have imported from the South for use in their store. The machine, which is an improved one, is made by Messrs Andrews and Beaven, of Christchurch, and is specially adapted for the purpose of cleaning cocksfoot, rye, oats, _c. These machines are made of the best-seasoned timber ; all parts are strong and well proportioned, and, being put together by experienced mechanics, are strong and durable. The sieves are 3ft by 2ft, and there are five of them, so that the seed is most effectively cleaned from all impurities. The machine is so accurately balanced that it is particularly easy to work. The wind is passed through the whole of the sieves, and is thus able to keep them continually clean and doing full duty. The sieves are interchangeable, so tbat with a few sieves any sized seed or grain may be cleaned. In grass seed five different j separations are made, taking out all the straw, oat husk, goose grass, rubbish, fog, kernel or small seed, leaving the sample as clean as it is possible to make it. In grain the samo number of separations are made, enabling combine, tares, sorrel, dock, <_c, to be quickly and cleanly taken out. We witnessed the operation of cleaning a sack of sparrow bill oats, which certainly was remarkable. The bulk looked as clean a sample as anyone could wish to see, and we were unable almost to detect a single weed, the only foreign element appearing to be a little fluffy matter. However, in the course of a few minutes, when tbe contents of the sack had run through the machine, we picked up a couple of hands-full of stuff from the refuse-box, confiding of Yorkshire fog, sorrel, docks, oat-husks, «_c. It was hard to believe that the original sample contained the dirt and weeds, had not we seen the operation ourselves. The importance to farmers sowing seed that can be guaranteed as oeing perfectly clean cannot be over-estimated. It certainly does not pay to sow weeds, as it is a well-known fact that if they are sown a bountiful crop is the result. We shall be pleased to show anyone interested the samples we have at our office — namely, the bulk, cleaned seed, and the rubbish. Messrs Barraud and Abraham are to be congratulated for their enterprise in keeping pace with their increasing business, and tbey certainly deserve the support of all farmers in tbe district. They intend in future to winnow all seeds they purchase which are not up to the mark, and, consequently, their customers can rely on obtaining perfectly clean and reliable seed.