INVENTIONS & APPLIANCES

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 77

INVENTIONS & APPLIANCES

OF INTEREST TO AGRICULTURE.

VEGETABLE TOPPER. Vegetables roll and slide down the sloping rolls until their foliage is caught between the hexagon and the round rolls, which are rotated by bevel and spur gears, and which sever the leaves, while the root passes on. A centre plate

covers the space between the hexagon rolls, and pins on it direct the foliage rearwardly. A series of flexible baffles prevent too rapid travel. The outer rolls are mounted on spring-connected arms to allow passage to stones, etc. IRRIGATION RIDGER. In this machine a double disc plough is converted to a ridger by reversing one disc to an inthrow position. Power

for raising is taken from the land wheel by clutch and gearing, and special adjUbtable offset draft is provided. ATTACHMENT FOR MOWERS. 1 lie object of this attachment is to provide means for the operator to raise the cutter bar to clear obstructions without having to leave the tractor. A line within his reach actuates a dupli-

cate lever system in such manner that a partial pull raises the cutter bar and leaves it locked by the pawl in raised position, while a further pull releases it. FERTILISER DISTRIBUTOR. The bottom of the hopper here is closed by an inverted saucer-shaped plate, which is partially rotated by bevel gearing driven from the ground wheel.

After partial rotation it is released, and a spiral spring causes it to snap back, this shaking out some fertiliser. A number of useful adjustments are provided. DRAFT CONNECTION. This is a special connection for pulling a machine such as a corn picker with its conveyor for discharging harvested material, and, parallel to it, a wagon box into which the conveyor dis-

charges. The latter is drawn from the end of the cross bar by a chain, and by varying the link of the latter which is engaged the position of the wagon relative to the conveyor can be altered to fill the wagon without levelling. PLANTER ATTACHMENT. The usual horse draft gear being removed from the planter, an auxiliary frame is attached, and this is hitched to the arched draft gear of the tractor. This allows vertical pivotal movement. When operating, the planter is carried

on its own wheels and the castor. Manipulation of the hand lever raises it off the ground wheels, - so as to be carried by castor and tractor only. This automatically stops operation and permits short radius turns.