TO SPEED UP HAYMAKING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 January 1929, Page 6

TO SPEED UP HAYMAKING.

DEMONSTRATIONS OF BAKING AND SWATH-TURNING MACHINE.

How to solve one of the farmer’s periodical problems was shown--yester-day in a demonstration of a machine which not only simplifies and lightens the labour of haymaking to an extraordinary degree, but considerably augments the value of the fodder. Technicians in the implement industry have conferred many benefits on agriculture, and it seems as if they will go on doing so until no opening is left because skilful mechanism has iclieved the. man on the land of every form of heavy or monotonous toil. ’ . The modern device which was given a working test- before a fair attendance of settlers yesterday morning, is a hay-raking and swath-turning machine made by the English firm of Barnford,’s. In course of time it will probably, be deemed.’an essential item .in the plant of an up-to-date farm, as it fills the important gap between the operations of the mower and the sweep. The demonstration' took place in Mr A. Anderson VG acre paddock of hay opposite the Levin Dairy Factory, in Queen Street, and it was under the supervision of Mr Smith, of the Reid and Gray Agency Company, Palmerston North. The machine, with a. horse* and driver, made two circuits of the paddock for hay-turning purposes, accomplished by two sets of revolving tines; and the result was interesting. Two rows of hay arc dealt with at a time, and from flattiah ridges a few inches high they are transformed into 'rows standing up to a foot and more, with the bottoms of the stalks turned uppermost and the whole mass loosened. So efficient was the raking that the stubble was loft as clean as though it had boon swept with a broom. The operation was rapid, supporting the claim made for the machine that it can treat IG'acres in a day, with on" change of horses. Following the exhibition of hay-turning, the device was used for sido-raking the hay into windrows. By this means five rows of turned hay can be collected into one row, two from each side being swept across to the , middle one as the result of a drive up one side and down the other. A demonstration was also given of opening the hay up again by driving up the middle of the windrow. The machine runs on one pair of wheels, from which power is transmitted by gears and counter-shafts to the tines, which are in the front and which may be adjusted by simple lever movements. Meadow hay was used, for the trial yesterday, but the contrivance is fitted to work amongst tougher crops and is stated to have turned lucerne with eminently satisfactory results even where it had been roughly cut. The price of the outfit is £33, and the display of. its capabilities leaves no doubt as to the foundness of such an investment. One of the greatest points in it.#favour is that it is an obvious time-saver, allowing much pressing work to be carried out in short intervals during changeable paniment of haymaking. The large of practical farmers who were present at different tines in the course of the demonstration had no criticism whatever to make of the machine, but were < nthusiastic in its commendation. As cue remarked, “there is no need to bring a fork the now.” .Several orders were booked for the supply of machine’s this season. The local agent is Mr D. Malcolm, from whom ail information can be obtained.