PUBLIC TRIAL OF A NEW PLOUGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5545, 25 August 1879, Page 5

PUBLIC TRIAL OF A NEW PLOUGH.

In compliance with an advtrtisement inviting farmerß and others to witness a public trial of the first of Messrs. Davej - , Sleep, and Co.'a balance ploughs, imported here, about twenty gentlemen assembled in one of Mr. R. Maclean's paddocks, on Saturday. The attendance was not so large as was expecte I. The advertisement stated that the plough to be tried was a double-furrow turn-wrest plough, but it was nothing of the kind. It is true the plough used was what iB called a one-way-plough—that is, a plough which enables the workman to plough from either end of the field, throwing tho furrows all in one direction, thus preventing the formation of "lands" usually observed on a ploughed field ; but the plough was not on the turnwtest principle, but Che "balance" principle adopted on Fowler's ploughing steam tackle. The machine is in fact two double-furrow ploughs fastened together upon a revolving pin, with tho shares of each set pointing in the opposite direction. While a couple of furrows is being cut in one direction, the second set of shares, mould-boards, are elevated at an angle of about eight degrees to the surface of the ground. On reaching thj end of the furrow, by the action of a lever the set of ploughs which were uppermoat is m*do to deseeud, while the other set takes the vacated place. By the turniug of the horses the newly-lowered ploughs are m»de to enter the ground, and thus the operation is continualy repeated, one set of ploughs cutting furrows one way, while the other set takes the furrows in the opposite direction, but the cut furrows are all laid iu one direction.

The implement is intended for threo horses, but only two were available. This, however, was but a small difficulty, because the two horses used were two of the most powerful animals that could be desired, as quiet as latnbs, and when the draught of the implement was tested by the dynamometer, it was found the two horses were taking a dead draught greater than many three plough horses could have takcu. The paddock in which the trial was made was in splendid condition for ploughing, being moist, and yet sufficiently firm to give the horses a firm footing. It had been frequently cultivated, and to a greater depth than the implement went, was composed of tiae rich soil, indicating that plenty of manure had been applied in former years. There was thus every condition necessary for good and easy work, with the one disadvantage, that the implement was comparatively new, aud had not been worked sufficiently to bring the various portions of the surfaces to a high state of polish.

At first the implement was tried upon a sideling portion of the paddock, where the angle was probably about 30 degrees, and afterward* it was tried upon a comparatively level portion, except that the furrow at one end dropped a little, causing the horses to have a down incline with one set of furrows, and a slight rise to overcome with the other. At either place the work was much the same, the furrow being thrown pretty much upon its back. As the implement was set to considerably "undercut" on the land side, the turned-up farrow had a delicate showy ridge, but with far too little soil in it to satisfactorily cover a seed crop. Indeed, if after such ploughing it had lain a month or so exposed to the winter rains, it is questionable whether any ridge would have been left for the harrows to cover the seed with. Part of this might have been due to the evident want of experience with such imple-

ments on the part of the ploughman. At first some ditliculty was experienced with the horses. With such an implement—or, indeed, all kinds of one-way ploughs—each of two horses have to walk alternately in the furrow and ou the land side. The horse which was evidently accustomed to walk in the furrow with the ordinary ploughs did not like walking on the land side, and in consequence the furrows were for a time somewhat uneven, but such matter is merely a question of education on the part of the horses used.

Throughout the ploughing was shallow, the furrows being about nine inches broad. During the cutting of a few furrows where the dynamometer was tried, the furrows cut were about five and a-half inches in depth, with a slightly narrower furrow. The draught appeared to be excessive, even after making ample allowance for the somewhat rough surfaces of the friction parts. The draught was never less, even in the shallowest parts, than five and a-half hundredweight, and on many occasions it stood for several seconds together at nine hundredweight. This is a tremendous draught for two comparatively light furrows in a free, moi3t soil, without any tough grass or other fibrous vegetation to cut through. Generally, however, the index finger stood about seven hundredweight, or a little more. It was said the total weight of the implement as used is four hundredweight, which is not great, considering the heavy draught the horses had to take. The substitution of an anti-friction wheel, in place of the sole and side-plates, would no doubt lighten the draught, but even when that is done, we fear the implement would be found to be very heavy to work. The one-way ploughs are generally used in the South of England for ploughing hilly land, but the top-hamper on Messrs. Davey, Sleep and Co.'s •• Invincible " ploughs would prevent them undertaking work which could easilv be accomplished by ploughs whose weight lay nearer the surface of the ground. Going along a steep hillside the weight of the elevated portion would exercise a great leverage, and it would be impossible to prevent a capsize on steep ground. The opinion of practical men on the ground ori Saturday, we think, ran somewhat in the same groove as our own, and little fear need be entertained that the new implement for cultivation will prove, in Auckland at least, a very serious competitor to those now in use. The price of the implement, in working order, but without any extras, is £29, landed in Auckland. It is furnished with circular skeiths, but the few loose stones in the field seemed to be always getting jammed between the skeiths and shares. If used for breaking up land where there were many small-sized tea tree stumps, this faculty of jamming would prove a serious obstacle. Two men were used on Saturday—one to drive the horses, and one | to attend [the plough, but, after a time, one I man might be found sufficient. However, this circumstance, occurring on the day of public trial, did not tend to raise a high opinion in favour of the implement. It seemed, also, not readily to clear itself of the loose grass on the field, and the small portions always torn out by root, and if used for breaking up fern or stifif flax land, a good deal of chocking would be experienced. One or more of the same class of implements can be seen at the workshop of Mr. Peace, at Newmarket, and we believe it is the intention of Mr. Morßhead, the importer, to make another public trial in the Cambridge district after he has got the implement into good working condition.

All claims against the estate ot Close Broß. are requested t• be settt in on or before the Gth September for settlement, and all accounts owing to the estate are requested to be' settled without delay. Hippolite William Hubert, bottler, Auckland, has filed a statement of insolvency, and the first meeting of his creditors is advertised to be held on the Ist September, at 11 o'clock. George Hinde Leaning, carpenter and build«r, has filed a statement of insolvency, and the first meeting of his creditors is fixed for Friday first, at II o'clock.