AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2483, 5 March 1881, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Farmers who wish to lead a jovial rather than laborious life, to economise labor, save expense, snap their thumbs at the property tax collector and colonial rag merchant, will do well to devote an occasional half-hour to an inspection of Messrs 11. Wilkin and Co.’s implement yards aud an interview with Mr Charles Bourn, the local manager. The yards may be approached from Strathallan street, below the premises lately known as Collin's and Co’s and ion rooms, or from Beswick street, directly opposite Wildie, Allan, and Stumbles’ mart. They contain an assortment of the latest English and American patents in the way of farm implements, and we are fully justified in saying that more can be learned on the subject of farming economy by an inspection of them for a few minutes than an agricultural school or college could impart in a lifetime. Nearly every requisite is on view, from the single, doable, and three furrow plough, which is the farmer’s right hand assistant, to the elegant American buggy, that carries him to market. And speaking of ploughs the best makers and latest improvements are shewn, one of the greatest novelties-being a three furrow which can be altered to a double furrow at pleasure. Another implement that is gradually coming into general use is the champion drill sower, which sows, pulverises the soil, and covers the seed at the same time. Mr Bourn, who is a thorough practical farmer, tells us that there is a slight prejudice on the part of some farmers against this implement,because of the extra time involved in sowing, but this disappears as soon as it is tried, for it really saves time by making harrowing unnecessary, while it economises the seed to the extent of fully one-fourth, or two pecks to the acre. The wants, however,of those who prefer broadcast sowing are not neglected,and some of Smyth and Sons’ (of Suffolk) celebrated cup sowers may be inspected. Harrows of different kinds are on view —three, four, and five leaf, the tripod harrow, so effective for breaking up the toughest soil, and Howard's patent reversible steel harrows for grass sowing. The science of saving waste of muscle is shown in the store, where maybe seen sack-barrows and sacklifters, a kind of barrow that raises the bags to any elevation and places them on the dray or on the shoulders of the workmonjwasliing machines and mangles of different patterns and machines and mangles combined ; and a variety ot handy articles, which have only to bo employed to render the work of the farm the easiest and gentlest work imaginable, instead of the drudgery that has hitherto bean such a drawback to agricultural pursuits,