The Farmers' Column.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 840, 26 September 1876, Page 3

The Farmers' Column.

__ ,„ ! TRIAL OF A WEEDING MACHINE. In June a new weeding and seedgathering machine was tried on Craig-miflar-larm, near Edinburgh, under the auspices of the Highland arid; Agricultural Society. The implement, in question, r ' which was invented by Mr Ingerman, of Koldmoss, near Gravenstein, Denmark, > and ia being introduced in this country by Messrs Ord and Maddison, Darlington, seems to be chiefly intended for clearing grain crops in their earlier stages of the wild mustard and other weeds which so seriously retard their" growth. It consists of a hollow drum carried on two wheels, , to ; which.^it is so attached that their mo- ; ~ tioii causes it to revolve in the opposite direction, and fitted with three steel combs, each running along its entire length and having close-set teeth about three; inches long. The combs are placed at equal distances round the circumference : T of the drum 1 , and are so arranged that as each in turn comes underneath, the teeth are thrust out to their full length in a forward direction, when they lie nearly parallel with the ground, but with a slightly upward curve. It will be readily ■ understood that when in this position, as Well as when approaching to and receding from it, the comb, while allowing the smooth blades of corn to^pass readily between its teeth, will lay hold of plants whose heads or stems offer points of resistance, and either break them off short or tear them up by the roots. As each comb rises with the continued motion of the drum it is drawn back through a narrow slit, the edges of which serve to brush off any stalks or leaves entangled between the teeth, bo that when thrust out again it is clear for renewed action. The machine is drawn by a horse yoked to light shafts in front, and the drum is constructed to be capable of being so adjusted that the combs shall work at a higher or lower level as the nature of the plant to be dealt with may seem to require. The weeds torn up or broken off are deposited on the ground in the track of the implement ; but it seems that an arrangement can be made, if required, by which seed-pods gathered by the combs <may be dropped into a bag attached to the drum. Thursday's trial took place on a field of barley over-run with wild mustard to such an extent as to present quite a yellow appearance. The hoe had been used between the drills at an earlier stage of growth, so that the bulk of the weeds were such as had grown up closely intermixed with the braird, which, notwithstanding this encumbrance, was in most places thick and strong. The machine used was one with a drum 4 feet 6 inches long, and of draught so light as not at all to tax the powers of a single horse. The immediate effect of its operation was to leave a green lane wherever it passed, amid the general blaze of yellow mustard. On examining the track more minutely it appeared that, while the young barley had been left uninjured, a very large proportion of the weeds had had their flowering heads torn off, and had thus been deprived of their germination. In places over which the machine passed twice only a few of the yellow flowers were left, those that remained being for the most part in a rather ragged condition. We did not observe that any of the mustard plants were torn up by the roots ; but it should be explained that the ground was hard, and that the implement is said to be capable, under more favorable circumstances, of uprooting a considerable number of weeds. As it was, the farmers present seamed to be of opinion that, though the mustard was not killed, a substantial benefit was gained in the destruction to so large an extent of its reproductive power. With a view, however, to estimate the ultimate effect of the operation, the requested that the area over which the machine had worked should be left untouched for a week, at the end pf which period they propose to make a further inspection. — ' Scotsman.' A NEW PLANT FOR CATTLE FEEDING. Under the above title some attention has recently been directed to a boraginaceous plant — a close ally to the common cornfrey — for extensive cultivation as a fodder plant. It is known as the Caucasian prickly cornfrey, and is the Symptytum asperrimum of botanists. Though the plant is spoken of as a novelty for cattle feeding, its adaptability for such has been known for some years, and an analysis* has been made by Professor Voeicker. It was introduced to Great Britain from the Caucasus at the early part of the present century, more as an ornamental plant, on account of its bold foliage and light blue flowers, than for any useful purpose. The recommendation of agriculturists, some few years since, to grow it extensively as , a green fodder plant, .was not at the time followed up, and now that the plant has come, before the agriculturist again, and that crown and root cuttings suitable for planting- are actually advertised at 5* per 1000, it is to be hoped that it may have a fair trial. This particular species of cornfrey is described as being specially adapted for the feeding and fattening ot stock, and for increasing the yield, of milk in cows. Itß growth is more rapid sod luxuriant than any other green Boiling plant, producing on a given space a larger yield than other crop. Good grass land yields 8 tons of grass to the acre cut green, lucerne 40, ryegrass 50, vetches 20, while cornfrey gives from 80 to 180 : ; tons; whether tbi», return should bp similar on all soils can only be authenticated by continued cultivation and experinient. It is, however, a deep rooted plant/and is to a certain extent independent o£ weather and climate, for in the dryest and hottest seasons it has been known to afford seweraA heaviest cuttings when most other vegetation iV burnt up or suffering from drongbt. Other *dr an-.

othW'criof ana 1 r M fisf "longer; f reqiienfly affording forage until it is cut down by severe frosts. Above and around the root stem are shoots or Buckers which can be taken off for planting and the roots sub-divided, so that the plant can be successfully arid easily propagated The plan tiug may be made at all seasons except during frosts. Its cultivation is simple and not costly. The ground should be ploughed six or seven inches deep and manured ; the cuttings should then be planted like potato sets about three feet apart. In winter the roots should be well dressed with ordinary manure or sewage. Besides its use as a green food, when dried into hay it forms an excellent food for horses, cattle, Bheep. pigs, &c. The juice of the plant contains a quantity of gum and mucilage, but very little sugar. — 'European Mail.'