HORNSBY’S HEDGE CUTTER AND TRIMMER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2324, 28 August 1880, Page 3

HORNSBY’S HEDGE CUTTER AND TRIMMER.

The trial of one of these machines took place at Ashburton yesterday. In order that an opportunity should be given to the farmers and others residing in the country, Air R. Smithurst—the travelling agent for Messrs Hornsby and Sons, the patentees—decided to get one of these machines and hold a trial, in order that its merits might, bo fairly tested. The locality selected avus on the farm of Mr John Carter, at Timvald, and the hedges cut Avcre of three year old gorse, and very uneven. The gorsc had been planted on a threc-sod fence, and had groAvu six feet above the top sod, and had evidently not been cut for considerably more than a year. In some places the posts and Avirc of the old fence Avere met Avith, and though the machine Avas stopped for a moment no damage Avas done to any portion of it. The knives came in one instance against a post, and made an incision of more than I;] inches, and cut one of the Avircs, but no damage avus done to the knivesor the machine Avhatcvcr. Some of tho stalks of gorsc Avcre quite 1} inches in thickness, and those Avcre cut Avith apparent case, and in no Avay alfcctcd the satisfactory Avorking of the cutter. The cutter, Avith the aid of two men and tAVOgood horses, is capable of doing about four miles of ordinary gorse fencing on both sides, and at tho top, in one da}'. Taking tho Avork done yesterdajr as a criterion, there can be no doubt but that these machines Avili prove satisfactory investments to the farmers, where such level land is to be found in in the Ashburton district is the rule. Mr Smithurst practically undertook tho Avorking of the machine, and thoroughly explained the Avorking parts to those present. About (JO farmers and others were on the ground during the trial,and all seemed highly pleased with the Avork done b} r means of this improved labor-saving machine.