Flying Dutchman Ploughs.

Hastings Standard, Issue 128, 23 September 1896, Page 2

Flying Dutchman Ploughs.

Yesterday afternoon, notwithstanding the bleak, cold wind which prevailed, a considerable number of farmers and experts assembled at the invitation of Mr Sydney Pattison, the popular manager of Messrs Williams and Kettle, for the purpose of witnessing a trial of the " Flying Dutchman" Plough. The exhibition took place on the property of Mr Robert Trimble of Hastings, and amongst those on the ground were noticed the faces of Messrs Robert Wellwood, James Boyle, W. and R. T. Proctor, E. D. Collison, Stuart Miller, Quartley, &c. The firm which Mr Pattison represents has assumed the agency for the Flying Dutchman, which is an all steel double-furrow plough, and is one of the very latest agricultural developments. Amongst, the many claims set forth on behalf of the plough are that whilst the cost is only about half that of double furrows of the usual pattern it will get through more good work in a specified time with less draught than any other plough in the market, besides which, as its manipulation requires very little experience, a boy and three horses can easily plough acres per day. This is rather a large order, but yesterday's trial satisfied all present that the powers of the machine were not exaggerated in any particular. Mr Robert Trimble, who controlled the operations of the machine, subjected the temper of the steel blades to a severe test by driving them deeply through a sliingle bank, with the result that the points showed no indication whatever of being blunted in the operation. The ordinary plough in throwing the soil from the furrow moulds it in its passage leaving the clay caked in regular ridges in its track, whereas the machine under judgment yesterday left no ridges, and the field over which it passed presented the appearance of having been dug right through with a spade. The advantage of this is obvious as it leaves the ground a prepared seed-bed and saves a considerable amount of labor. In a climate like ours which is subject to such long periods of dry weather, the advantages of a deep furrow for root growing cannot be over-estimated, and herein lies another and an eloquent claim for the general adoption in this district of Messrs Williams and Kettle's protege. The measurement of the furrows showed a depth of lOin. by 30in. wide, and both the quality and extent of the work performed met with the warmest approval of the onlookers, who expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied with the exhibition.

By the re-arrangement of a few bolts the machine can be transformed in less than half a minute into a single farrow plough, and altogether it is a vast improvement in every way upon the ordinary pattern. The soil worked yesterday was medium, and some of the farmers present expressed a desire to see how the plough would deal with stiffer ground, consequently arrangements are being made by the agents for another trial upon the farm of Mr Robert Wellwood, due jiotice of which will be given.