What Makes Good Ploughing?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 26

What Makes Good Ploughing?

VVHAT is the judge looking for when he assesses the work of the match ploughman? In other words, what constitutes good ploughing? What better man to consult on this question than a judge himself, and the man who is New Zealand’s nominee for the panel of judges who will review the work of competitors in this week’s world match. He is Mr D. J. (Doug) Stewart, of Rosebank, Rakaia, who will also be one of the judges for

the New Zealand ploughing championships which will be held tomorrow. A leading ploughman in earlier days, Mr Stewart says:—“The main points which I will observe are:— “The opening split should be cut out cleanly and neatly with no grass left unploughed and should be straight. “The crown furrows must be packed closely together with no grass visible, and must be uniform on both sides and be difficult to identify from the rest of the ploughing. "For weed control, the furrows should be well skimmed and well turned so as no grass is visible. “For a seed bed, the furrows should be bold and rounded on the back, with plenty of soil on the top, with no holes or breaks. They must also be packed

tightly together for firmness. “The finish should read in with the rest of the ploughing and be narrow and well cleaned out with plenty of soil available in the last furrow so as to allow it to be subsequently filled in for a seed bed. “The whole plot should be straight and uniform.” Mr Stewart farms just over 500 acres on the River road, just west of Rakaia, in association with a son, Mr J. D. Stewart, and is noted for his ability as a producer of prime stock. His sheep are well known at Addington market. He is a breeder and judge of South Suffolk sheep. A considerable cropping programme is also carried out on Rosebank. His debut as a match ploughman was made in 1934 at Rakaia with a sixhorse team, but the next

year he changed over to a tractor and the plough was converted to a tractor plough. From 1936 onwards he ploughed around the circuit of matches from Rangiora to Papakaio with a fair measure of success. At Timaru about 1937 he won out of a class of 15, including two, three and fourfurrow ploughs. After the war he ploughed in only one more match and then turned his hand to judging. About 1957 he began judging qualifying rounds for the New Zealand championships and has been a regular judge of these events since. He judged at the national finals at Rotorua in 1963 and at Chertsey in 1965 and was a reserve judge for the Invercargill final in 1962. Mr Stewart is a member of the organising committee for this week's match and

was senior vice-president of the Rakaia Ploughing Match Association last year.