KAIAPOI FARMERS’ CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2320, 10 September 1881, Page 3

KAIAPOI FARMERS’ CLUB.

The monthly meeting of members was held at the Club Chambers, Cookson street, on Thursday evening. Mr E. Parnham occupied the chair, and there was a full attendance. Letters were read from the Colonial Secretary and Mr Creighton, San Francisco, relative to the sorghum, which have already been published. On the motion of MrPashby, seconded by Mr Ross, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Hon. Mr Hall and Mr Creighton i'or their kindness and interest taken in the affairs of the club by forwarding a supply of sorghum, and with certain valuable information relative to the growth of the plant and results obtained. Parcels of the seed wore ordered to be distributed. Mr Pashby read an interesting paper upon farm implements, in the course of which he referred to the rapid strides made in the improvement of implements. He noticed that the first ploughing match was held in 1854 at Fendalton, and was won by Mr A. Mcßratney, who used a Barrowman plough, and hence for many years none but ploughs of that manufacture were considered to be worth having. It was to be regretted, however, that those days of wheat at 10s per bushel and potatoes £lO per ton were past, and something superior to a single plough and pair of horses was needed. He anticipated that the double or three furrow plough was the one for the future, made with front board to takeoff and sub-soiler to be attached,an implementmakingtwo 13in. furrows for potatoes, or with skimming and drill appliances attached, so that beans, for instance, might bo sown right away. He contended that this plan of putting in beans was superior to drilling them in. Potatoes could be planted in this way also. There bad been considerable improvements effected in the making of harrows, and this was an implement upon the farm which farmers ought to pay more attention to. The heavy ones ought to be coupled, so as to work up and down. In chain harrows there was room for a change, and they might be made wide enough for four horses, and made in three parts, with steel teeth, each part 3ft wide, coupled so as to be separated when required. So few had experience in working tbs different kinds of drills that it was difficult to decide which were best. Although the American had many improvements, it was for behind the English drill in many respects. In a drill such as he advocated the beans should bo put in with the plough. The coulter should be made to shift as required, and it would be an improvement to have the box adapted for sowing grass seed as well as clovers ; likewise distributing the artificial manures. In rollers, the Cambridge was considered the best. He preferred those with shafts movable from side to side, with grass seed box attached, to be worked by either one or two horses. Horse hoes would be more used as they grew more beans and potatoes. Reapers had been vastly improved on since the Burgess and Key were first brought out, and while indebted to the Americans for the harvester, it was hoped that the firms of Howard and Bedford, Hornsby, and Samuelson, would be soon in a position to offer much better machinery at a lower price. He hoped they would encourage the English makers to drive out of the market machines which were not only excessive in point of cost, but were costly in respect of the extras which they always required. He referred to the advancement made in threshing machinery since 1853, when the first —a two-horse portable—machine threshed for the farmers along the Ricoarton road, who had to take their turn, at Is per bushel. Great progress had been made, to which he referred, concluding by pointing out the advantages of the Fowler’s traction and threshing engine and combine. On the motion of Mr Ross, seconded by Mr Walls, a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Mr Pashby. On the motion of Mr Ross, seconded by Mr Walls, Mr Robert Coup wao elected chairman of the Club for the ensuing year. On the motion of Mr Pashby, seconded by Mr Humphreys, Mr J. G. Kidd was unanimously re-elected secretary. The meeting then adjourned.