Farm Gadgets Displayed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 10

Farm Gadgets Displayed

r A fencing unit fitted to the three-point linkage of a tractor, and a portable sheepyard were among several labour-saving gadgets demonstrated at the Lincoln farmers’ conference last week. Built and demonstrated by Mr D. Bissett, of Ashburton, the fencing unit incorporates the driving mechanism for stakes, and also a spool for rolling and unrolling netting. The unit can hold up to 22 stakes—enough for a eoil of netting—but Mr Bissett generally uses 17 to 18. They are held in a spring-loaded carrier, and are driven on the same principle as a welldriver, with the weight delivering a striking force of 701 b. A spool on the back of the driving unit has been fitted to hold the netting. This can be removed very easily should the operator want to back into an awkward corner for stake driving. The spool Ims a tapered core which fits through the coil Providing the centre stake in the coil is slotted between any two of the tapered centres it is held firm. Mr Bissett said he had not fitted a btolt-in braking

system for use when unwinding coils, but he found that a stake jammed against one side of the spool was adequate. In rolling-up netting, the speed of the spool is regulated to the speed of.the tractor simply by using a jockey lever to keep the belt pulley taut as required. Mr Bissett explained that

his machine had been designed for one-man operation. He said tile netting should not be rolled too tight This was hard on the netting, and also made ft harder to unreel.

The hardest part of the operation was to get a straight fencing line because the fencing unit was fixed in an off-set position to the tractor. The stake-driving unit did not damage the stakes in any

way. The beltdrive system had been used mainly to overcome a shortage of universal joints.

A portable sheep yard demonstrated by Mr M. Prattley, of Teanuka, was designed for tailing lambs. The unit can fit on the three-point linkage of a tractor, and it can also be put on a wheel assembly and towed by car. In portable form ft measures only 10ft, but once opened up, ft will hold a minimum of 120 ewes. Depending on the sft tubular steel and mesh sections that one would like to add, it can hold up to 300. The resit includes a tatting race, with board floor, and facilities for threeway drafting. Ail parts are interchangeable. Mr Prattiey said the parts could be used for mothering pens during lambing, a crate on a truck, or simply as a pen in which to confine a pet lamb.

The whole unit can be folded and wound up on to .the wheel assembly. In theniaod portion, it could be need at a loading race. . > W A little can is needed to winding the unit on to ite wheels, or back on to the ground No ratchet had bran? fitted to the model demonstrated last week, but Mr Prxttley said a ratchet safety device would not be so easy to fit, as it might first appear. Whether the unit was being wound up, or wound down, he said, the weight was with the operator. He thought a safety device would have to involve a cut-in should the handle reach a certain speed. The basic price of the unit 4s £l2O, with the wheel assembly an extra at £3O 10s. The photographs show Mr Prattler's sheepyards, set np for we (above) and ready for transport (below).