Agricultural and Pastoral.

Otago Witness, Issue 918, 3 July 1869, Page 16

Agricultural and Pastoral.

SHEEPIWASHINjO PLANT". A Sydney; journal gives v the" fallowing description of a sheep- washing; plant, capable of /washing about 200 sheep .per day of ten hours, which was exhibited by, Messrs* P. TS. Russell & 'Go., of the Sydney. Foundry, at the late New South Wales Agricultural Show :-—" This washing plant is said to have been arranged on principles combining all the, improvements the firm has been able to effect after a large experience, with the advantage of ' the most extensive ■ information and valuable suggestions gathered from the various squatters whom they, have supplied with machinery. The hot swim — which is an oblong tank, with, a partition in the centre — is made in one with the soak-hole, and is of a width sufficient only for one sheep to swim on either side of the central partition, thus making it impossible for the animal to turn round and swim back when once it has entered. The ■water in tnis swim is kept constantly at a temperature of about from 100 to 110 degrees at will, by, means of a steam jet pump or injector, whioh raises the cold water from the soak-hole, or other source of supply, and delivers it into the swim at a temperature of 140 degrees. This steam jet pump, or injector, is worked by a steam pipe from the same engine that drives the centrifugal pump for supplying the spouts, thus doing away with the necessity of a second furnace and boiler, the water being heated by the steam at the same time that it is thrown up. The advantage of this arrangement is obvious, as the steam pump can be started in the morning, some time before the men can be ready to commence spouting, and the water got up to the required temperature ; after which, a small quantity can be added now and then, as may be required to keep up heat. Messrs. P. N. Russell & Co. have arranged the steam jet pump in such a manner that it will deliver water into the spouting tank as well as into the soak-hole, in order to show that it can be used for raising the temperature of the spouting water as well as of that in the hot swim, if required. After leaving the hot swim, the sheep are landed on a draining stage, from "which they are shot (before they have time to cool) to the spoutmen, who stand in the tank below, one at each end of the spouts, or vertical je%» oE water. As regards the jets or spouts, Messrs. Russell and Co. exhibit several different classes as most in favor. Ist. The centre one of the overhead tank has a double jet of water — that is, two separate vertical jets of water about four or five inches apart, and parallel with each other. TMb is considered preferable to the single jets, as exhibited on either side of it, whereas, again, many squatters prefer the single jet to the double one. At the side of the washpool nearest to the centrifugal pump is Arranged a square pipe with two spouts — one a vertical, the other a diagonal jet — so that any difficulty about getting an' overhead tank, or bringing the water by gravitation, can be obviated. Tho water is supplied to the spouts by means of a centrifugal pump, manufactured' '' on' ' the. principle known as r Appold's, capable of raising from 1400 to 1500 gallons per minute. These pumps, of which the disc or fan has curved vanes or arms, have been admitted as superior to others in giving a very much higher percentage of' work for power applied than any other of their class. After passing from tinder tho spouts the sheep walk down an incline on to the grass or into drying pens, as circumstances may require. Tho engine working the machinery is 12-horse power." The fcJcAßiPißtt ought, to be kept moving wherever the ground is infested with weed roots. This implement, with the grubber and cultivator, is becoming more and more patronised by f armors herb, as well as in England. After the first deep ploughing the cultivator may be most effectively used ; it iß_ quickor, and far bfitter for bringing up to tho surface tho weed nuisances than ths plough. Stirring implement* cannot be usod in winter, but only when tho land is perfectly dry, when the latter may be moved with impunity and beneficially, instead of being kneaded and injured, as it would be if wet. It is becoming* now tho custom in England to plough in autumn only, and to. depend upon the cultivator ana harrow, for socuring the proper tilth in spring. This \ facilitates the operations, of tho field vory Vnuch, and has called forth tho invontivo \emun of our .'agricultural implement \akers, especially towards improving tho Vticular implement undor notice, for in \hing has such progress been so marked Vi the cultivator and scarifier class.— Wurno Economist, ,