TRIAL OF "PLANET JUN." IMPLEMENTS.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 5

TRIAL OF "PLANET JUN." IMPLEMENTS.

Those who were not present at the trials of *' Planet Jun," implements, held at Mr Scott's, of Broad Bay, on the 24th, and at Mr Matthews'^ nursery on the 23rd, mlsi'ed ft genuine treat. The first implemer-t shown was a hrre hoe, which is capable of being adjusted for ell kinds of .culture of crops planted in rows from 15in in width up to 4ft. At Mr Matthewo's place it was first worked in nursery stock planted about 3 Sin apart, the £Touna being very compact, and covered with weeds from 6in to lit in height. Ihe excellent manner in which the hoo pulveriEed the soil, and •worked- clo? e to the young trees without the least injury to the roots, leaving scarcely any handweedlog to ba done, astonished and pleated all present. After this trial in narrow rows, the moulding up plough and furrower wtre adjusted to tlw rame frame, and Mr Sailford, the American expert, showed how furrows to tha depth of at least a foot could be opened up, and by changing the angle of the plough the oarth could be returned to its former place, leaving it smooth and level. At Mr Scott* yesterday the horse hoe was shown in a nunibtr of rows of potatoes planted on a steep hilUide, on which tha weeds had been allowed to got a good start. A farmer present remarked that if it would work there it would surely work anywhere, and the proof tbat it did work satisfactorily was that Mr Scott purchased the machine in question, and two others were sold on the spot. Ihe machine is made entirely of steel, and consequently so strong as to be able to withstand almost any strain that it may within reason bo subjected to, while it is light and oahy to handle, •weighing only about 601b. All its parts are shaped so as to resist both wear and strain, and are fitted together with gi eat exactness. In addition it has a lever wheel, which enables the operator ta change its depth while in motion, and also to turn easily at the end of the row. By the lever expander the width can be changed in_ an instant, without even stopping tbe machine. These features alone have worked wonders in diminishing the cost of cultivation. Other attachments, such as the covering roller, marker, vine lifter, and special forms of steel plates, fit tha machine for a range of work and variety of usei tbat seem almost endless. . . • A combined drill was also shown, which is capable of sowing all kinds of seeds from the size of turnip up to peas or beans, covering them to any desired depth, rolling down the earth, and marking out the next row— all at the speed of a moderate walk. It has also several useful attachment", such as knives, cultivator teeth, rakes, and plough, with which the cultivation of a girden can be done in one-fifth the time, and the ■work becomes a pleasure instead of a task. Messrs Nimmo and Blair are the agents for Otago and Southland, and will be pleased to give all information in regard to these very useful tools and furni&h full descriptive catalogue". Mr Sandford leaves for the south today, and intends holding trials alone the lioe to Invercargili, the dates of which are given in our advertising columns.