A DIFFICULTY SOLVED.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1917, Page 3

A DIFFICULTY SOLVED.

(From A Correspondent). A great deal has been written and spoken of late years anent the need for keeping up the quality of the good pastures of Taranaki and restoring the vitality to those that have apparently become worn out. For this purpose top dressing with vftrious fertilisers has, on all sides, been 'recommended, but there has always cropped up the question of how to apply the super, slag, limo or •what-, not, desired. Hand sowing was found too slow, irregular and, specially in the case of slag, too suiotheringly dirty. A good many tried using the ordinary drill after removing the coulters, but found that method unsatisfactory for several reasons. Something of light draft, strongly but simply made, and not too high for lifting the heavy manures into as well as far releasing its load fairly close to the 'surface of the land, so that it would not bo affected much by strong wind, was wanted, and these requirements seem all to bfc met by the newest broadcaster, of Messrs P. and D. Duncan's manufacture. The first of these to bo tried in the Moa district was put to work by Mr. 11. Renall, representing Mr. Newton King, the local agent for the patent, on .Mrs. E. A. Laurence's farm near Durham road last Tuesday. He carefully explained the working of the machine, and showed how it could 'be set to sow from \ to lUcwt per acre, also how, if desired, a grass seed box could bo fixed on to the front part for broadcasting seed at the «amo time as the manure. In actual working, with a good load of slag, one light draft horse made no trouble about hauling the drill, if so it may be styled, and the regularity with which the slag was sown was very satisfactory, so much so indeed that it will not bo surprising, when once its merits are known, if many others follow Messrs Laurence and Hall's .lead and secure such a useful implement | for themselves.