FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2751, 1 March 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Cf.opi'/ni; v. Live Stock.—Professor Wrig'atsou, writing- to the Times, says : — " It appears to me that the possibilities of profitable farming have gone over from the side of corn to the side of live stock. Dear corn and dear cako in the past prosperous times forced the farmer to look for his net profits to corn. But now cheap corn aud cheap cake must cause him to look for his net profits to live stock. Formerly the root and fodder crops were mere precursors of corn ; now corn, fodder and root crops must all bo considered as subservient to live stock. My own opinion is that fanners who have altered their cropping in accordance with the present range of prices have not dono amiss, and are not doing badly. It is accomplished by grazing, dairying, sheep breeding and growing good barley and some wheal;. Oq the heavier lands grass seems to be thp natural alternative to corn growing ; on light soils shfep breeding and a smaller [ arsa of corn, together with a certain amount of dairying on tho permanent pastures. Surely it i< wise to, as far us possible, turn our disadvantages to account. Cheap corn at least is cheap food for stock. The compensation to stool; feeders brought about by recent chauses ia values is not to be despised. Fir*t quality of mutton was quo l ed on the 18th inst. at lOd, and first .quality of beef at 7Jjd per lb. on the Islington market.. Superior brands of American linseed cakt> are quoted at the same date at from £6 12s 6d to £6 15s per ton; grinding barley at 20-1 to 245, beans at 26s to 35s per quarter.

A New Currv Comb.—The Mark Lane Express tells us that a new American currycomb has just been introduced into England by Messrs Spratts, the wellknown firm at Bermondsey. It combines the strength of metal with all the elasticity of a brush, the flexibility of the hoops being, another special feature. The merits are well pointed out in a circular we have received. In the first place, it is as soft as a brush, because the hoops give, and enable the combing surface) to get clown into the hollows and slip over the elevation, to the great comfort j of the animal and the great convenience of the hostler. It is a perfect self cleaner, and the best sheddar known, because it is a spring, and the vibration of the coils readily frees them from all dirt and hair. It cleans a horse quicker and better than other combs, because it has 320 teeth which do not track, and because it does not grate harshly over the surface, but accomodates itself to any and all parts ol a horse, frsm his ears to his heels. It is a very strong aud well-made comb since the coil is made from very tough spring steel, and the shank is cast malleable, and all partß are riveted together. Its teeth do not bend out of shape from rough usage, because of its circular form, and because it is elastic. The back is aii excellent sweat scraper. The reasons are apparent.

Reaper and Binder Trial

The most important and exhaustive trial of harvesting machinery ever held in the Ashburton district took place on a piece of land owned and occupied by Mr John Ronifant, and known as a part of Christie's farm, situated about seven milea below Ashburtoo, in the Wakanpi

district. The crop chosen was a thirtysix acre paddock of Tuscan wheat, estirhated to go about twenty-two to twenty-four bushels per acre. With the exception of a, small ridge of shingly soil, and a slight dip in one part of the paddock, the field was a level one, and the crop was pretty even all over, so that these was little difference .in..the natureof the ground the machines had to go over. The Massey machine had a shingle ridge at one end of her piece, and the Hornsby had an awluvaid bit of ground to i?o over iti the first part of the crop. The conditions under which the trial was held were that after the machines were once started experts were not allowed to follow. The driver was to be no other than a bona fide fanner, farmer's man, or contractor. The sheaf carrier was to be used after the third round, and could be attached either at opening or after the third round. The judges were to give points for cleanness and neatness of stubble, be.it sheaf, smallnoss of litter, time taken in cutting, draught of machine, twine used and quality of tying, simplicity of construction of machine, strength and accessibility for oilinir. The judge* were Mr M. Stitt (Winchester). Mr W. Hoeken (Lousbeanh), and Mr John Shearer (A-htun), with I). Brick in attendance. A committee, to mark out the ground and superintend the general arrangements, was appointed as follows : — Messrs Geo. Loudly, J. Small, J. Gilmour, Huston, D Butterick, and Huston, while the Secretary to the Association, Mr J. J. C. Qaane, did all he could to see that every detail connected with tho trial wan carried out satisfactorily. Mr J. Ranger had a tent erected and supplied luncheon to the judges, committeee, and general public. Nine machines had entered for competition, and as the trial had been much talked about it was expected that a large number of people would be present, A few showers of rain had fallen overnight, but the rain had cleared sufficiently in the morning to allow all preparations being proceeded with for the day's contest. The headland had been cut round, and the crop marked off in lots of about three and a half acres to each machine, and when the agents, experts, and others interested in the machines arrived on the ground about nine o'clock everything was in readiness. At first there was some objections raised to one or two of the men who were to drive, on the ground that they should be classed as experts, but a brief examination before Mr Leadley. with Mr Trolley cross-questioning, soon settled the point satisfactorily. A draw resulted in the machines beinw yilaced in the following order: -Brantford, 7ft cut, driver G. Cox, jmt. ; Wood (elevator), sft 6in, driver Mulford ; Buckcve (elevator), 6ft, driver J. Houston ; Hornsby, 6ft, driver Cardon ; Howard. sft, driver P. Cox ; M.assey. Oft, driver Sturgeon ; Wood (single aprou), driver Hack ; Deerius, 6ft, driver S. Hulme ; McCormick, 6ft, driver Cardon. A start was to have been made at ten o'clock, but it was a quarter to eleven before all the machine* w«re ready. At this hour Mr Georjre Leadly dropped his flag, and with one exception the machines, each drawn by two horses nnlv. cut into the crop. One of the Wood machines wa< delayed a little, nnd did not start till several minutes after the other eight. From the time the machines cut in, the keenest pos-sibls interest was taken in t.he worlc, and as the day wore on a very larse number of farmers and others arrived on the ground. There were several minor hitches during the opening up, and before the second round several of tho machines had to wait on their neighbours, but after this each went on its way without interruption. The work as it proceeded was closely scanned by those present and the foremost machines each had many warm supporters. The Brantford was the first out and as she dropped the last sheaf she was hailed with hearty cheering from a nig knot of the onlookers. The trusty McCormick was only five minutes behind the 7ft cut Brantford and a round of well deserved applause greeted her performance. The Deering was tho next out and was closely followed by the Buckeye. Then came the Hornsby and Massey, the last to finish being the Howard. The Judges, who were not present while the cutting was going on, commenced their duties at 1.30 p.m., aud while they were performing their very difficult task the farmers gave their individual opinions, the general verdict appearing to be tlmt the McCormick would be placed first. The Brantford, Massey, Hornsby, Buckeye, and Deering had also won a lot of supporters, and it was difficult to tell how these would be placed. The Judges, after carefully going over all tho ground, had the machines put into m bit of crop at the ide and subjected to a dynamometer. Whilst this was going oil another set of judsres went over the ground for the purpose of judirinar of the driving. The first prize, a guinet, wa« awarded to Mr G. Aston, the driver of the ■ Hornsby; tho second, half a guinea, to Mr Sturareon, tho driver of the Massev : i while Mr G. Cox, who drove tho Bruntford, was highly commended. There was another driver who certainly deserves a great deal of praise. This was Mr J. 1 Houston, who handled the Buckeye all the way through in a most excellent manner. Tho judges having tested the draught of tho machines, and carefully examined the mechanical construction of each, made their awards as follows :— McCormick, 84 points; Brantford, 72 ; Buckeye, 70, Massey, 69; Hornby, 65 ; Deerintr, 56; Howard, 29: Wood, IS; Wood (No. 2), 7. Mr John Orr (the agent for the victor) and Mr Quane having very briefly addressed those assembled, three cheers were given for the judges and the committee, and a move was made for home. This adds one more, and that a very important one, to the long line of victories won by the McCormick, and those who saw the work dime yesterday by this roniitrkiibly successful harvester will asrree with the decision of the judges. From tho time she out in till the time she had fiuished her three and a-half acres, in an hour and fifty minutes, she never missed tying a sheaf, while a particularly close,_ even, and clean stubble was left. Getting on to a bit of rough ground at the start a big stone damaged the knife and made it a bit blunt, but in spite of this her cutting could scarcely be beaten. Her sheaves were well bound, with good square butts, aud the majority of those who went over her ground were of opinion that the old favourite would once more head the poll. She started at 10.45 a.m., aud dropped the last sheaf at 12.40 p.m. Two horses were used, and the machine was well driven by Mr Carlton. j _ _The Brantford was the first out, at 12. 35 p.m., but a little has to be allowed for her greater width of cut The work done by this machine was much admired. She worked without a hitch from start to finish. The crop happened to be badly Uid in places, and tiiiS had the efifect of giving the butts of some of the sheaves ail untidy appparauce. She cut very close to the ground, delivered a good-sized tightly-bound sheaf, and there were very tew loose straws left about.

The Buckeye had ouly once before been seen in a trial in Aslihurtou. On that occasion some very pretty work was done and it was expected she would repoat th& performance yesterday. She was drawn by a splendid pair of horses, owned by Mr Houston and driven by Mr J. Houston, jor. Me opened out remarkably straight, hut at first was tying the sheaves a little too high and a little too loose. He stopped to alter the tension and shifted the binder *nd from this out the Buckeye did vory pretty work, leaving a clean, | !>-e stubble and delivoring a tightlybound and well-uhaped sheaf. She started at 10.45 a.m., and finished at 1.2 p _m.. but out of this was allowed four minutes for having been detained by another machine. Mr Houston's par tioularly and good driving was much admired, and many were of opinion he had won the driver's prize. Phf> M,i-m v hod hiifi luok at. starting, a very rough bit of «tony ground making exhibition, wtfrk an impossibility and

oauging a bit of a stoppage after the sepond round. However, she wont on without interruption and did remarkably pretty work up to the finish, leaving a very close stubble and delivering with great regularity even rows of tightly bound sheaves. Her work was much adruired as was also her smooth running, •easy draught and general construction. The driver, Mr Sturgeon, handled the machine well. The machine finished at 1.29 p.m. The Horn*by had a nasty bit of ground to go over at, firnt, bnt with this exception, her work was good, the even lines of nheavei' being well tied, and having irood Hquare butts. She was drawn by as fine a ouir of horse* as ,ever wulued a wheat field, animals being owned hy Mr W. Jamiesun. Mr G. A. Stone whs the drivr. and was awarded the first prize. The machine finished at 1.34 p.m. The Deering did some particularly good work, anil delivered the best butted sheaves on the ground. She was scarcely cutting so low as she usually does, but this could easily have beerijjfcltered. As it was her work was such fas to deservedly win favourable comment, and gain her many friends. The time taken was from 10 45 a.m. to 12.59 p.m. The new Howard was not seen to advantage, a fact that was much to be regretted. She had only been set up a few hours before the trial, and after being set up, one of the spindles that works the butter was twisted by .some meaos, and the bearing becoming over-heated after a round or two it gave way, and the remainder of the work had to be done without the use of the butter. The Wood machines were also not seen to advantage, the work done being nothing like equal to that both the single apron and elevator machines usually do. The single apron did good work now and then, and left a very close clean stubble.