BROADCAST SOWING MACHINE, FOR TURNIP, GRAIN, AND GRASS 0 SEEDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 5

BROADCAST SOWING MACHINE, FOR TURNIP, GRAIN, AND GRASS 0 SEEDS.

Economise is now the watchword, and every thing bearing iv this direction is meeting with careful consideration. In the department of agriculture^ this is specially the case, and what with^ machines for planting and machines for digging potatoes, steam ploughs, seed sowing machines, reapers aud binders, &0., the farmer is having his interests very closely studied, and most valuable helps to economise are being provided for him.

Atthe wharehouse of MesarsNimmo and Blair, we inspected a broadcast seed sowing machine, for turnip, grain, and grass seeds, made by Mitchell and Son, Scotland, which, by all accounts, is a most valuable machine for these purposes. It is claimed for sowing machines generally, and for this one in particular, that an evener distribution of seed ia obtained, and the economy, considered from this point, is very marked. Where a field is unevenly sewn, parts will be thin, stunted, arid prematurely ripe, or, at all events, ripe before patches which are too thickly Bown, and thus the want of regularity in the sowing may lead to the loss of much valuable grain ; — so that the economy comes in at more points than one. The makers claim for this machine, that it is the most complete of its kind in the market, and the result of much careful attention.

THE MACHINE KEADT FOE SOWING, The first of our plates shows the maohine ready for sowing. The second, with each half swung round alongside the horse, fop convenience of passing gates, and romoving from field to field.

THE MACHINE ARRANGED I'Oll PASSING GATES.

The peculiarities of this machine are mainly six in number, and may be classed and described a 9 follows :—: —

Ist— The seed-box is made in two, and is constructed so that each half shall swivel round on the centre pivot along each side of the machine. The shortness of the half boxes prevent the fore end from coming too near the horse's head, or projecting far behind the machine, as is the.'case when the box is made in one piece. The maohine is thuß very portable, easily wrought, and easily stowed when not in use.

2nd— The distributing seed pinions in each half of tho seed-box are driven by the corresponding carrying wheel of_ the machine. This secures an evener distribution of seed than when the whole are actuated by one wheel,_ as sometimes on rough land the wheel from which the pinions ara driven makes a^halt, and the machine swings partly round, thus passing over part of the field without distributing any seed. In this maohine the distributors in each half of the box being driven from their own wheel, whichever end of the box moves forward there is a corresponding discharge of seed. 3rd — The motion is communicated to the seed pinions direct from the carrying wheel^ by spur gearing of the very simplest description, so that derangement is almost impossible. 4th — The rods on which the seed pinions are fixed are held in their plaoes by sliding covers. When these covers are drawn back the seed rods may be lifted out and laid into the hooks provided for them. The seed-box can then be easily cleaned out through the hinged ports in the bottom when the sowing of a field is completed or when it is desired to change seed.

5th — The distribution of seed ia regulated by a carefully adjusted sliding bar wrought by a lever, held in its place by an adjustable catch and fitted with a graduated index, showing approximately the number of bushels per acre which the mchine will sow. This sliding bar is so constructed that when once properly adjusted it is almost impossible that any inequality iti the distribution of seed throughout its length can take place after.

6th — The ease and rapidity with which the machine can be converted to any of its intended uses : — By the mere drawing of the sliding covers, the distributors used with grain or grass seeds can be lifted out and the canisters for turnip seed substituted without necessarily losing more than ten minutes in the conversion ; that an even distribution of turnip seed is secured by the hoppers, which receive when it loaves the canister; the hopper conducts the seed right out of the seed-box, and thus prevents accumulation, with its consequent patchy distribution.

The seed boxes are usually made to sow a breadth of 18 feet, but can be supplied longer or shorter. They are fitted with sliding plates for closing the seed ports, and with internal ad justable divisions by which the box can be con. tracted at pleasure.

The machine to many farmers is chiefly valuable because of its adaptability for sowing turnip seed broadcast, and tho economy here is not altogether in the seed saved — though in sowing some thousands of acres there is no mean quantity saved, because as little as six ounces per acre may be sown — but there is again the matter of even distribution, which is secured by the arrangement of the hoppers — a recent improvement. The seed, on leaving the canister, is conducted by the hoppers outside of the box, consequently is not allowed to accumulate and come out ia patches.

A very simple matter is the converting of the maohine from a grain or grass seed sower to a turnip seed sower. The ordinary distributors — which are iron, not brashes — used for the former can be removed by drawing a slide, when the canisters, on a rod, can be substituted without the least trouble.

The machine can economise time, as windy weather need not interfere with its work. The wheels are low and broad, aud withal light. The weight of the machine, including everything, is about six cwt. 1 These machines were exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Kilburn last July, and this is what The Implement and Machinery Review for the month of August says : — '' Broadcast turnip, grain, and grass seed sowing-machines were exhibited by Messrs Mitchell and Co. (Limited). These, it appeared to us, were admirable. The woodwork was of the most creditable character, and combined with obvious strength and durability were features of elegance and proportion. The makers claim to have effected several important improvements. The seed- box is made in two parts, and on its way through gateways, or along narrow roads, these portions ultimately revolve on a central pivot, and ultimately find their way to the side of the shafts. We saw this done iv the showyard, and were surprised to see how quickly aud easily the operation was performed."

The local agents for these machines are Messrs Nimmo and Blair, and to them w.e are indebted for a number of the particulars contained iv the above information.