W. BASSETT AND CO.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 12

W. BASSETT AND CO.

Messrs W. Bassett and Co. had selected from their implement works in Manchester street some of the leading lines" for which they are agents and direct importers, and with these they made a highly attractive and particularly creditable display of all the principal implements and machinery necessary to successfully work an ordinary farm, sheep station, dairy farm, orchard, or garden, of any size or description. The display was decidedly ono of the and most varied on _ie ground. It. was one which did the firm infinite credit, and one which showed

that W. Bassett and Co. are keenly alive to the importance of being m a position to supply their over-increasing number of clients with all kinds ot maeniuery of the very latest and most approved designs, and the highest quality of workmanship. It was one which drew crowds of visitors to this particular stand, and not only did this collection win much favourable comment from onlookers, but it led to a lot of good solid business as well. Harvesting machinery was represented by several of the "Albion" reapers and binders. Tho •'Albion" sido-delivery reapers, witli pea litters, and tho "Albion twospeed grass mowers with and without reaping attachments. This was an English mako of machinery, which again won much favour, ana deservedly so, for since its introduction into tho* Dominion of New Zealand it has been put to ninny severe tests in all conditions of crops, and has stood these tests with a degree of satisfaction which has been highly pleasing to all concerned, and which has led to largely increased hooking orders for this season's output. The English-made "Albion*' machines were exhibited on the Christchurch Metropolitan Show Ground for tlie first time last year, and the favourable impression then made was amply justified later on in the season, when they were put to work amongst tho hay, clover, pea, wheat, oat, and barley crops with unqualified success. To those who have an intimate knowledge _of the variousmakes of reapers and binders, a casual glance only at tho "Albion was isuiFicient to create a highly favourable opinion, while a very minute inspection of all its mechanism was such as to warrant a firm conviction that in the "Albion" the makers. Messrs Harrison, McGregor and Co., of Lancashire, have turned out a reaper and binder which, for simplicity of mechanical construction, durability, lightness of draught, and for making the best of work in all classes of crop, would be impossible to excel. It has been subjected to exhaustive and innumerable field trials, with tho most satisfactory results, and its march of progress in tho reaper nnd binder world has been ono of unchecked triumph. It has competed in large numbers of the principal field trials in nil the principal parts of tho graingrowing world, and has won close on 500 first prizes, gold medals, cups, etc. This particular machine attracted a lot of most favourable comment from experts, and it has already become a warm favourite with grain growers and harvest contractors. Other Harrison and McGregor implements on W. Bassett and Co.'s stand wero "Albion" grass mowers and "Albion" side-de-livery reapers, and it was gratifying to note that the closest inspection revealed nothing but tho pleasing fact that all tho .workmanship was of tho highest grado, combined with utility and durability.

There is no more useful farm iumlement than tho Beuicia Disc Plough, a tool which, with tho greatest __ ease turns up the.soil in just that condition necessary to allow the air to get well through and to sweeten tho land, and to allow it to readily absorb the plant foods which the elements so freely give back when the soil has been properly prepared to tako in thoso plant foods. The benefits derived from using tho Benicia Disc Plough are so great that there has been an euormous demand for thorn from tho day they were first introduced to tho farming public. The Benieias Were shown in vanous sizes. They aro admirably adapted for work on till classes of already cultivated land, and they aro speci__ly effectivo in dealing with land infested with twitch, or which may have become smothered with Cnliforman thistle, turning up tho soil in such a manner as to leavo the roots of noxious weeds thoroughly exposod and to wither and dio in the sun. Other implements shown wero the Brantford cultivators. Royal lawn mowers, force-pumps, windmills, oilengines, the Jersey milking machine and plant complete, Vega cream separators, Donald's _wire strainer, samples of binder twines, lubricating oils, windmills, and n variety of other garden and farm implements, all of which boro amplo evidence that tho firm of "W. "Bassett, and Co. aro always to. the front in producing for their numerous clients the latest and best implements which can be turned out of any factory.

Amongst a variety of other implements seen on this stand were Martin's cultivators, Martin's three-furrow ridging ploughs, three-drill grubbers, einglo drill ridging ploughs and grubbers, Brantford spring tino cultivators, the J. and F. Howard spring tine cultivators, Jackson and Son's Empire potato digger, a 2000 gallon force pump, by F. E. Myers Bros., and many other useful implements. Ono machine which should not be passed over without a passing special reference was the "Martin" new patent combined side delivery rake and swath turner and tidder, a machine of special use on a farm, more especially in view of tho further great strides the dairying industry is making in all parts of the Dominion, and the great importance to each dairy farmer of providing a plentiful supply •of well mad© hay for winter feeding of tbo cows. This new combined side delivery rake and swarth-ttirner and tedder, is just tho right cla_s of inplembnt that should be in use in all cases where a good sweet hay has to be made. It is a machine which h_s gained numerous first prizes, and W. Bassett and Co. have received many valuable testimonials in respect to the efficient work the machine docs, the easy way in which that work is accomplished, and tho perfect construction nnd great durability of tho machine. Though tho Martin cultivating and hay harvesting machinery, made its first appearance on tho Christchurch Metropolitan Show ground this year, it is by. no means new to the Old Country, and a close inspection showed that it is tho best and most up-to-date of its class, whilo'lt has won many of tho world's highest hour i ours and innumerable medals, clips, and money prizes at numerous exhibitions, and at a large number of tho leading agricultural shows. Tho nine-tined cultivator shown has been specially designed, and the tines have been so perfectly constructed that they can be set to work with the greatest effect, no matter how hard or in what other condition the soil may be in. In fact th© machine has been so thoroughly tested as to put the severest strain on tho tines, and even tho tearing up of strips of macadamised roads has not been sufficient to cause breakages. Tho tines have also been so cleverly constructed that they go well down into the subsoil of any land desired to bo worked, and pulverises in a most thorough manner tho soil which is turned up, and leaves a perfectly clean even pan. Tho Martin's patent has a combined rigid section tine with a spring and digging action, and will therefore keep well in the ground to any desired depth, while at tho same time it vibrates breaks up, and-pulverises the soil. This cultivator is light in draught, and will move more soil per lb of draught than any other type, because the shares are set at a correct cutting angle, and each tine being connected by a spring always gives a steady pull without hanging or jumping; also, as each tine is alive, there is no dead strain on th© horses. Th© pan of th© furrow is thoroughly broken up, the drainage is improved, and any plant manure which has concentrated in the soil is liberated ?_,l gI , Ven fi-i t \° t * h _ ingoin e "'OP- The tines are fitted with new patent steel shares, and these shares are mado for cutting the roots of any kind of weed, the machine has been specially designed for the cultivation of root crops, and the combinations are such that it can b© used as a grubber, ridging drill, and for all kinds . of hoeing and weeding . ° r _" -i The tint,s can be specially set for drill-hoeing turnips in any desired width. Without doubt there was no other implement of its kind seen on the

grouud better adapted for this class ofwork.