MACHINERY TO THE FRONT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 16, 10 September 1898, Page 3

MACHINERY TO THE FRONT.

On Thursday, at the invitation of Messrs Priest and Holdgate's manager (Mr E. J. Atwill), we ' were" present at a preliminary trial of a new potato-planter held at Mr Atwill's farm. The machine, which is drawn by two, horses, is. very compact. Ai the back of the driver is a shoot which holds about one" third- of a baa: of potatoes. This shoot- connects

with an iron box in the inside of the machine, the number of' 'potatoes admitted to this box being regulated by the machine itself. Through the box, pass a number of arms (according to the width between the potatoes) each having a couple of points near "the end." These points fasten in a potato and the arm is carried forward, and strikes against the front of the machine. At the end of the arm is a movable piece which will pass between the two points, and when the heel of this strikes, it knocks the potato into the furrow. The furrow is 'made by a share at the front, and two pieces behind cover in the furrow. The machine is readily put out of gear. Although the paddock in which it was tried was full pi twitch and stones, the machine worked well, rarely missing a potaio, arid 1 then only on account 1 of the very large seed used. „ Contractor!" and thos« i who grow large areas of, potatoes should not miss the opportunity aftbrded tliem of seeing this latest' proo"f of the' advance oorf r machinery. ' "* '" " j~> : '.

A Social wai held in the Temperance Hall on Wednesday ,evening"tb meet thVßev. D. J. Murray, who* was passing thrbugh^oli hufvray to Dunedin.,* There .-'wa^ i goodly number present. Tea was provided and. the •vening was 'passed "very "pleasantly 'with'' solos, re'citair>r>R nTifl'inßtmTnfintnl Wnaini «• < -i •-•