THE EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2534, 23 May 1882, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION.

There was a fairly good attendance yesterday at the Exhibition. An exhibit worthy of notice has bean added to the Ladies' Court in the shape of a knitted wool shawl, exhibited by Mrs Donald McLean, made of scoured wool from one of the stations, and spun and knitted by the exhibitor. This is a very wall made shawl indeed, and as a purely local production it is to be regretted that it came too late to be seen by the judges. The machinery exhibits, though not so numerous as we have been accustomed to see them at our agricultural and pastoral exhibitions, are excellent quality in workmanship, and varied in description. We will first notice those exhibited by Messrs (Jeorge Booth and Sana, who have a very good display of all kinds ot implements, &o. Commencing with the exhibits occupying the opace just after entering the annexe for stationary machinery, the one attracting attention is Earat and Bradley’s gang and sulky ploughs. The first of those is a double furrow plough, the main novelty being a spring steel seat for the driver. Close by the seat are Invera for adjusting the depth ot furrow, lifting the plough from headlands, and for guiding the team. The pressure of a brake on the furrow wheel enables the driver to lift the plough out at the headlands with out any exertion , on his part, the work being dona by the horses. The width of furrow out by this plough is thirteen inches, the mould boards being so constructed as to throw the furrows completely over ond bury any weeds, &o. The beams are constructed of steel, and the plough itself is almost entirely made of steel and iron. The sulky plough is by the same maker, and is a single-furrow, cutting IGIn. As in the gang plough, the mould board and share are of finely tempered steel. It is fitted with a friction attachment for raising it at the headlands or elsewhere by the power of the horses. This, together with the one already referred to, is a very useful implement, and they are now being largely used here. The jurors awarded these ploughs a first order of merit. Of drills Messrs Booth and Son exhibit two manufactured by the Farmers’ Friend Manufacturing Company, Drayton, Ohio. These are named respectively the Farmers’ Friend and the Monarch. The first of these is a seventeen coulter drill, covering 10ft in width. The double force feed distributor is a small circular casting, with ribs or carriers on its surface, made to revolve in a cup which is attached directly to the hopper containing the grain. The carriers on the feeder, instead of running straight across its surface, or all in one direction, a.i in others, are made to run diagonally in opposite directions, which produces the double action which gives the feed its name. The grain in the hopper comes to the throat of the cup, and to the ■urfacs of the wheel, similar to a funnel, and as long as any is in the hopper, and the feeders arc in motion, it must be carried out in an unbroken stream ; and the distributors, all being identical with each other, and never changed in any part, one cup must always sow as much as another. The bottom of the seed cap is hinged ; this is to make the channel larger for corn, peas, and beans. It distributes these coarse grains as well as any drill can do. lb is important also so enabling obstructions that are liable to gat in with the grain to be removed without breakage or injury to the machine. The most important feature, and that which dieting uiahe.’ it most highly from all others is the c;no gearing for regulating the seeding. It consists of a number of gear wheels of different sizes, securely fastened together in a cons, and which connects with a wheel that turns the distributors. The quantity is regulated by moving a wheel on the axle into the wheel of the cone to sow the desired amount, as shown by an indicating plate. It is instantly changed by a lever, and even without stopping the team if a change is desired during the operation of the drill. The quantity thus regulated is exact beyond the possibility of a mistake. The feed once perfected, the amount sown in one revolution was determined, and the gearing then calculated to revolve the distribntor fust enough to sow the desired quantities. And with the cons the changes are as quickly and conveniently m\do as with any drill. The drill is exceedingly well finished, and at the Derby Show of 1881 of the Boyal Agricultural Society of England the judges re- i commended it as a model of style and finish, which the English makers would do well to copy. The monarch drill is also excellently finished, and, like the one juit described, is seventeen coulter, covering the same omount of ground. The feeders of this drill, a part of each of which is made with channels for carrying the grain, and part blank, are fastened on a shaft and made to revolve In seed cups connecting with the hopper. This shaft can be moved lengthwise, and the quantity per acre is regulated by moving it BO os to leave more or less of the channelled surface of the feeder in the seed cup to carry out the grain, the blank part acting as a anted!. A scalloped washer fitting the feeder forms the side of the cap through which the channelled part moves, preventing the escape of the grain. The shaft is moved by a lever at the rear of the box, and a dial band moves over an indicating plate on the rear of the hopper, showing the quantity it will sow in any desired position. Next to the drills is Koemmerer’s patent broadcast sower, 12ft in width, Theoornor seed is delivered by cups (attached to revolving discs) into tubes which conduct it to the triangular blocks of the distributing board, by these it is divided and finally falls up on the pegs beneath, and a perfect distribution is the result. The quantity per acre

can be regulated at pleasure, each machine being furnished with an ample number of cog wheels for that purpose. With a 10ft. machine twenty-fire acres can be sown per day, or with a 13ft. machine thirty acres ; either machine requiring but one small horse and ono attendant. To each machine an improved patent cogging apparatus ia applied, which ensures a proper cogging depth of the cog wheels, irrespective of the judgment of the attendant. The handall disc harrow is composed of a aeries of concave steel discs arranged on a spindle. The harrow, which is twelve feet wide, is fitted with twenty-four of these discs, twelve on each side of the pole, the angle being adjustable to suit the work required. The driver’s seat is fixed in the centre, the weight being evenly on both ends. The discs run at right angles from the axle, and also ore drawn in an oblique direction through the ground. The earth is thus out and forced up into the hollow part of the discs, being thrown over, and ensuring complete pulverisation. This implement has lately coma into favor with our farmers, and those who have used it speak in the highest terms of its efficiency. A first order of merit has bean awarded to it by the jurors. Cultivators are represented by an exhibit manufactured by Charles Olay. There are t wenty-fivo tooth fixed in four parallel bars at the back of the implement ia a lever which enables the teeth to be thrown clear of the ground backwards, in order to remove rubbish, &o. It is of wrought iron throughout, runs on three wheels, and the depth and pitch of the teeth can bo adjusted. A potato planter by Nash and Bros., Now Zoaland, is also exhibited. This implement makes the furrow, outs the sets, places them in the ground, and covers them up at one operation. One man and one horse is all that is required to work the planter, and four acres per day can be easily planted. Another speoiolity exhibited is a riding saw manutao tured by the Farmers’ Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. The seat of the worker is fixed on a series of moveable levers. The saw itself is worked by means of a foot lever, the weight of the body of the man and a hand lever also assisting. This is a most ingenious arrangement, by means of which it is claimed double the work of an ordinary saw can bo performed. A very interesting ehow of dairy appliances ia made. This comprises churns, by a number of well-known makers and butter workers. These comprise the “ Lilly,” Eeid’s patent, and the “Simple.” In the first of these, by simple gearing, the crank revolves the batter bowl and also the ladle or grooved roller. The shape of the latter is peculiar, pressing the butter into ridges as it passes under, which, on the next turn of the bowl, are crossed diagonally by the roller. There ia no metal which can possibly come into contact with the butter. The bowl is concave, so the buttermilk all tends towards the centre, where it passes down through a hollow spindlo to a vessel placed below. The machine can be taken apart in a minute and thoroughly cleaned with ease. Oa detaching the roller, the bowl can be removed from the frame and Bet away with the butter. Buid’a patent consists of a tray and rollers with paddles, which ia turned by a crank and traverses from end to end of the tray. The “simple” consists of a board supported by logs at one end, the other end resting upon the table, and a grooved roller for use by hand. All these are exceedingly handy for dairy use, This collection was awardad a first order of merit by the jury in the department. A noticeable item in the well arranged show of machinery, made by Messrs. G, Booth and Sons, is a rotary eccentric screen manufactured by Perkins and 00. It is fitted with three cylinders to suit different kinds of grain and seed, and has every appearance of being a most useful implement. A revolving scraper ia exhibited, which possesses the advantage of being exceedingly simple and effective. Another useful iuvention ia a combined sack lifter, loader, aud shooter, by moaus of whioh one man can easily perform work which would otherwise require two men. At the far end of the bay is displayed, a collection of garden tools and other small goods, chief amongst whioh may be noticed the easy lawn mower, for whioh Messrs Geo. Booth and Sons are the solo agents. It is constructed largely of steel and wrought and malleable iron, producing great strength with extreme lightness; and the traction is obtained by a patent open steel roller, which allows the grass to intrude and obtains a very powerful traction on the turf. The patent handle, can bo instantly removed or applied at any desired angle, thus giving the operator a firm hold and perfect control of the mower when in use, and admitting of the machine being stowed away in a small space when not in use. The spiral knives are made In a hooking shape, and retain their edge for a wonderful length of time, and, if necessary, a file or emery can be applied without removing them from the michine. Both upper and lower knives are hardened, and are provided with convenient adjusting screws. The height of cut is quickly regulated by means of the truokwheel brackets and their binding screws. The exposed journals are covered with overlapping bands, and those of the catting cylinder are packed with felt to retain the oil. All the oil-holes are so located and drilled as to prevent any entrance of dirt. The machine is quite silent in operation, and the knives cut to within one inch of each end of the mower. Another handy machine is the Planet junior combined drill, which can bo used as a garden drill, two kinds of hoe, and a garden plough. These multifarious operations ars performed in a most satisfactory manner. The firm also exhibit a portable forge for small work, a wheat mill, samples of belting, hose, wire netting, barb wire fencing, &0., &3. The Smythe wire fence nail is worthy of note. It is used as a staple to fasten the wire, the advantage over an ordinary staple being that it can be driven into the hardest wood without bending. Clarke’s and Calvert’s wheat dressing is also exhibited. This is prepared for the preservation of seed wheat from the attacks of birds and inaaots, and also from the ravages of the smut. Messrs Booth and Sons, as agents for Thomas Corbett, of Shrewsbury, make a very capital show of implements by that maker, comprising winnowing rollers, harrows, horse hoes, cheese presses, &c. The first of theee which may bo noticed is the A 1 Bolipie winnower. This machine has gained over 120 first prizes ia competition all over the world. The bottom oscillating screen is fitted with adjustable arrangement, and there is also a new arrangement for browning by the introduction of a tray on a slanting groove of the riddle case, whioh is adjustable. There is also a patent brush for cleaning the bottom oscillating screen, and it is fitted with roughing apparatus for dressing grain with rough chaff in. An improvement is introduced in having the riddle case to move bodily in a transverse direction, so that the whole surface is subjected to the same oscillation. The same firm have also the Australian monarch borrower and elevator; whippletrees, three horse and two horse; Cambridge and segment rollers, cheese presses, combined horse hoe and ridging plough, k o. They elao exhibit what are termed colonial harrows. The special advantage possessed by the colonial harrows is their simplicity and strength. Instead of each tooth being bolted on independently, one spindle holds each row in position. They can also bo folded up closely for shipment or transport, Altogether the display is a very orsditable one, and attracts a great deal of attention.

The bay of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company is a very interesting one, displaying as it does magnificent samples of our two staple exports, grain and wool. In a glass case in the bay is exhibited samples of Canterbury grown wools in the grease, including merino, hoggett, wether, ewe wools, Lincoln lambs, first oroes wether and hoggotts, second cross ditto wether and hoggett. In the scoured wools there ore exhibited three bales, viz., one first combing hoggett and two merino combing. _ On each side of the entrance to the wool bay is a glass case containing samples of wool in the grease grown in Canterbury and Otago. These include merino and long wool samples. These are very handsomely arranged, and the quality of the wool is undeniable. A special exhibit is shown in the shape of a sliver, hand oombed, by Mr Mnrgatroyd, Avonside. In the further case towards the grain bay Mr Murgatroyd also exhibits hand oombed tops and Botany tops, and also scoured wools, including two samples specially worthy of mention. These are two samples of scoured merino wool, one from the station of Mr A. J. Chapman, and the other from that of Sir Samuel Wilson, Eroildonn, Victoria. These are both beautiful samples, the fineness of texture being worthy of all praise. Along the upper part of the front of the bay are displayed a number of scoured merino skins, and behind these are several basils of splendid quality, dressed by Mr J. Bassett, of Timarn, in twelve minutes. These are beautifully soft and well finished, A white hone

hide is alio exhibited dressed by the same tanner in fifteen minutes. - A pair of hand combs, used before the introduction of maohinery, for wool combing, are exhibited by Mr Murgatroyd. Perhaps one of the most noticeable objects in the Exhibition ia the display of grain made in this bay by the company, comprising as it does no less than twenty-two prime samples of wheats. Of these thirteen are Tuscan, from Canterbury, Invercargill, Nelson, Auckland, and Oamaru, one sample Hunter’s White, one ditto Farmer’s Glory, ono ditto Golden drop, one Russian, one Pearl, and throe Velvet Chaff. These represent the pick of the best grain growing districts in the colony, and snob a display of cereals has never before been made at any Exhibition. Most noticeable amongst these are samples of Hunter’s white, grown by the company at Melford, to which a silver medal has been awarded, the weight of whioh sample is 671bs per bushel; Tuscan, grown by W. Baxter, Brookcido (6Glbs to the bushel), also silver medal. Following these are the samples of Tuioaas grown by Lester and Soampton, weighing 671bs to the busht 1; by Thomas Coleman, Upper Biooarton, 671bs; by J, Hodgson, Irwell, 66 and 671bs ; by Isaac Wilson, Ohoka, 651bs; Q. Aikenhead,Waihoa, Oamaru, 67J1b8; W. Wrigh’, Bennettp, 631bs; H. Vallance, Setton, 661bs; T. B. Hodder and 00., Appleby, Nelson, 661bs; T. McDonald, Arrow, Invercargill, 671bs. These are remarkably fine wheats, plump, clean, and well threshed, the weights given show that the grain is of first-class quality. Bronze medals were awarded by the jurors to several of these samples. Tho velvet chaffs are worthiy represented by two magnificent samples from Oamaru, grown by I James Breen, of Enfield, giving to the bushel, and by John Keid, of Blderslie, 6GJlbs. These wheats, especially that of Mr Eeid’s, are magnificent for flour producing qualities, and bronze medals ware awarded to each of the samples spoken of. A third class certificate was awarded to J. Hodgson, Irwell, whose! sample scaled 65 lbs, not being so strong as those of tho exhibitors previously mentioned. Mr Waiting's sample, from West Eyreton, of Farmers’ Glory, and that of Mr W. Moir, Golden Drop, grown at Methven, also received third class certificates, and are very good samples of the particular descriptions of wheat. Messrs Hodder and 00., Nelson, have a good sample of pearl chaff, whioh also received third award. Two samples of oats are exhibited, tho number of whioh, no doubt, would have been largely increased had the season been more favorable. Those exhibited comprise samples of Canadian and Danish oats. Tho first ofjtheee was grown by Messrs Earshman and Co. on the Pahau reserve. These oats weigh 521 b. per bushel, and are a splendid specimen. The Danish oats were grown by G Livingstone, at Makikiki, and go 441 b. to the bushel. The Canadian oats received a silver medal, and the Danish a third order of merit. Fourteen samples of barley were exhibited. These are principally from Nelson, no less than eleven being from there. The quality of the samples exhibited is exceedingly high, especially those from Messrs Hooper, Brightwater, Nelson, 601 b per bushel j and F. Lsiman, Spring Grove, 57£lb per bushel. The former ot these samples especially deserves notice, as being magnificent. These two samples were awarded silver medals. The samples exhibited by J. Buss, Waimea West, and J. Saoherley' also deserve notice for quality. Bell Bros, Hope, and H. Challis, Waimea West, send excellent samples of fine clean grown barley, as also does Mr J. Jary, Hope. Messrs O. Best, Appleby, P. O’Connor, and J. Hammond, Waimea West; and B. Malhers, Spring Creek, close tho Nelson exhibitors, the quality of whose samples is undeniably very high. Mr W. Baxter, of Brookside, exhibits two very good samples. The majority of the eamplcs exhibited have received bronze medals and third class certificates. While there ia no doubt as to tho excellence of the exhibits of barley as a whole, some of the sample appear to have been somewhat too olosoly threshed, thereby depreciating, to some extent, their marketable value. A very creditable exhibit of Black-eyed Susan peas is exhibited by Mr W, Baxter, Brookside, and received a well-merited silver medal. Mr Hodgson, of Irwell, also exhibits a very excellent sample of Pifcssian blue peas. A sample of horse beans, to whioh was awarded a bronze medal, is also exhibited. Tho company also show on behalf of the growers a very nice collection of ryegrass, cocksfoot, linseed, and maize. Mair and Company’s flour and oatmeal, of whioh fine samples are exhibited, received the highest awards. The samples are very fine, and well deserve tho recognition of the jurors. In the centre of the bay is a glass case containing malt from Mr B. O. Parker, maltster, Nelson, whioh was awarded a bronze medal. Samples of Fiji sugar are also shown. The sugar is of excellent quality, and is exhibited in six different qualities. As there is now direct steam communication with Fiji from New Zealand by way of Auckland, it is probable that efforts will be made by the company to foster the trade in sugar between the two colonies. Mr Lamb, of Auckland, exhibits some biscuits of good quality, for whioh a bronze medal was awarded. Byoroft ancJOo., of Auckland, also send two fine hanks of flux. Several sample* of hops from Nelson are also exhibited. The total awards to the company are as follows :—Two gold medals, twelve silver, twenty-three bronze, and six third class certificates. These go to the various firms represented by the company, except the two gold medals, whioh were awarded specially to the company, one for greasy wool and the other for general excellence of grain exhibits and arrangement of the bay. Around the bay are displayed fifteen photographs of the different offices of the company in the colonies, viz., London, Melbourne, Sydney, Ohristohuroh, Dunedin, Timaru, Oamaru, Wellington, Ashburton, and the Bluff. The two sketches ot tho Melbourne and Oamaru offices respectively, by Mr Lloyd Taylor, F.E.T., 8.A., and Dennison and Grant deserve notice from their artistic excellence.