PLOUGHING MATCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14284, 26 August 1910, Page 6

PLOUGHING MATCH.

AT WASHDYKE. "To turn the soil up deeply, and plough it well is the basis of successful cropping.'' So say the experts who are supposed to know; and it is pleasing to note that their advico is being followed by all farmers who keep abreast ol the times. Ploughing matches do much to inculcate this principle, and it was no matter for surprise to find that Ahe ploughing match held at Washdyko yesterday, was largely attended, and watched with keen interest. It was held in a flat paddock belonging to Mr Fred Stocker, off tho Pleasant Point road, and the horsed vehicles, cycles, and motor-cars which were located alongside of it, gave it the appearance «of an agricultural show ground on a minor scale, A. feature of the gathering was the large number of young men who were present, these giving evidence that there are some young fellows who are not given over whollv to sport. A number of ladies were also present, and they took as keen an interest in watching the ploughing winch ;'read" jyoll, and noting the detects of that which was deficient in any particular, as did their male friends. J lie day was beautifully fine, and alt ] She arrangements were excellent, thank:, to the enthusiastic President (Mr M. Maze) and Ids capable eo-ad-jiitors on the committee of management. The ground, ploughed was one w.th old pasture in it, the soil boiii" mee and friable, witli sufficient moisture, in it to allow of a neat furrow »'ing turned and stand up well after the plough. Certainly there were a good many inequalities in the paddock, but these only served to bring out better, the capabilities of the ploughmen. I he teams were set to work shortlv after 10 •> clock and the last man "drew out about, half-past four. There were i'o fewer than 21 teams competing, ,"" ."' t'"-' 1 " 'if-'ing six-horse teams drawing three-furrow ploughs, and it .is » hue Sight to see them all at work »' the one held. It is over 42. years ?, !i!i°- £ '' St P !o "t- r; "'"S "latch was -U h't'l rmiarU ' ] < lfc «"<»■* Jwld where the Athletic grounds now are) and old identities who took part in it, and were present at the match of vestrron that a finer lot of draught marcs and geldings than were at work ,n yesterdays .competitions has never been seen in this district. Thev were tlio admiration of all, being i„ splendid condition well-groomed, Z ud 'S v well trained to thei, work. Y tu tli. t there was over £'2ooo worth of horseflesh there; the plo.mhs in ,i"o £4OO, and the harness was estimated at about £l3O. As anticipated thl champion ploughman of Southland (Mr tors' ,dsa - v » w .»s »»"»,g tho competil tois other disciples ol the mouldboard coming to compete from to P. 'l') n ' Y V,' l ktmlholme, Morveu l.'.'V'i Jl, '^ i " lt J-'oint, Levels, and y ■ ashdyke districts. Yerv liber, prize money was offered, £OO be , , Paul away ,„ ~,sl, illld ;„ additio , " ; t i .-, a number „| trophies „•„„. .„,,_ r l 1'? N,,, ' ( ;' !11 I""'* 11 *- 'I is'satis- *. -to o to „ote t0,,, that all ~, I>''"-"s were > lillKl( ,,| „ v t .-, l '. hve minutes alter the l "< judges were made known The, »/'< }t\Ao* lt ir liarin-ss and f-, r ~1 I1(i ; turn of teams, as well us for {^u^

and it must be said that the way the teams in general were turned out., was a credit to these- responsible lor them. Mr George Miller, of \Yannate, and Mr J. Paterson, of Seadown. adjudicated upon the ploughing; while Messrs It. Irving (Albury), ami A. Martin (.Seadown;, judged the harness and the teams, their decisions giving general satisfaction. The ploughing, taken all through was exceptionally good—so good that the judges Lad a difficult task in awarding the places, and before they could do it, they had to .search for very tine points of difference. In Class A. (high, cut) the competitors were nearly ad up to championship standard. lu the woids of one of the judges, (MiMiller) it was all 18 curat and in an experience extending over 40 years, lie said he had never seen anything better. The prize in this class went to the Southland champion, G. Hunter running him very close. Both got a leering as straight as a gun barrel, no fault could be found with their ins and outs, they both finished well, and packed their furrows neatly witi'i a nice curl on tho top such as the ploughman who takes an interest in his work, like to see; but Lindsay's ploughing showed a greater degree of uniformity than Hunter Sj and where there had been an inequality in the ground, lie took it out by lifting the plough here, and dropping it a littlo there. Hunter did the same, but not to quite the same extent as Lindsay, and the latter was awarded the coveted place of honour. A. Brown, who came third, showed nice, even ploughing, but his plough had a tendency to 'crush and break the comb. The fourth man D. Gibson, who comes from the Oamaru district, had not been used to the class of soil in which he had to work yesterday, and lie was unfortunate in getting a bad piece of laud to plough, close by the creek. This caused him to get an inferior break, but he afterwards rectified this to a large extent, and by the time he reached tho last furrow, "his lines read pretty well. In class J3., fancy ploughing, there were only two competitors— G. Brown and D.' Christie —and both put in some clever work, showing the ploughing has been reduced to a fine art. Coming to the plain ploughing, as done by the competitors in Class C, it must be said that this was also of a high standard of merit, and by some it was thought more highly of than the high cut or fancy ploughing. Lv reason of the fact that with it, there is no ridge left in the bottom of the furrow, and the soil is opened up more to the influence of suii and air. Advocates of the high cut argue against this however, that by the latter the soil is better packed, and will retain , tho moisture longer in a dry .pell. J. 11. Luke, the winner in Class C, got a splendid leering, a good finish, and his work was uniformly good from start to finish. W. Itoss, who came | second, kept a good, straight line, turned a neat furrow, and negotiated ' his ins and outs well. J. O'Connell, the third man, also did well, keeping clear of the mistake made by some, in getting i-ather too much 'Mace" on the furrow. "\Y. Coppin, a. ploughman with only one arm, competed in this class, and though not nlaced. lie did remarkably well, fu Class ])., for youths j under lit) years, .some really good work was seen, the boys heating some of the adult plain ploughmen. I''. Briggs was placed lirst and lie well deserved his win. Class K was for 3-furrow ploughs, tho work of the G-horse teams turning three furrows at a time, was watched with great interest, and it was remarket! that such teams 'go some way towards solving the labour problem on tho farm, as one of them is equal to team and a half of the ordinary size, jet only one man is required to drive it, and lie is comfortably located on a seat. For the. best team on the ground, Mr "W. Grant got lirst prize, though another one, owned by Mr K. J. McKx'own, ran him very close. A capital luncheon and afternoon tea was provided on the ground by Mr J. Shewaii who had a big marquee erected for the purpose, and he and his, assistants were kept very busy. Mr It. J. .Edgar, who acted as secretary for the day, fulfilled his (duties very capably. After the. presentation of prizes by the President, cheers were given for the judges, (who gave their services free.), for the champion ploughman, for all who had assisted by contributing prizes, for Mr Stocker for the loan of a paddock, and lastly, a hearty round was given for the ladies. The following is tho prize list, the names of the owners of the teams being given in ■ parenthesis: — CLASS A. Ooen to all; first prize £6, second £4, third £2. A. Lindsav (It. J. Edgar) ... 1 G. Hunter (D. Cain) 2 A. Brown (M. Maze) 3 1). Gibson (1). Gibson) 4 J. C. Hay, H. Todd, W. Divan, P. Hunter also competed. Ciass B. For non-prize takers; first j prize £4, second £2, third £l. , D. Christie (M. Smith) 1 G Brown (P. Davidson) 2 Ciass C. Plain ploughing; first prize £5, second £3, third £2. J. H. Luck (J. H. Luck) 1. W. Ross (D. Ross) 2 •J. O'Conneil ("W. Harkness) ... 3 M. Fitzharris, AY. Coppin, and T. Currie. also competed. Class D, For youths under 20 years; first prize- £3, second £2, third £l. I<\ Biggs (A. Biggs) 1 T. Brcen (T. Johnson) 2 Class E. For throe-furrow ploughts; prizes £5, £3, and £2. A. Sevb (E. Cartwright) ...... I G. Maze (M. Maze) 2 Specials.—£s for best ploughed lot on the ground—A. Lindsay. Class A. Best fcering, lOOlbs flotii giver by W. Evans,and Co —J. C. Hay. Best finislic, clock given by D.I.C P. Hunter. ! Class B. Best feeling, clock given

! finish, trophy given by J. Bonaldson—- (.!. Urown. I Class {'. Host f,.,.,-in-, tropin bv (\ (.:. Snow-,J. H. I.uck. Br,.t lini,,, !'>-. .J. 11. Lurk Cl:i, ; , D. |J.vM. best finish. ln s _T. R.eon Class E Best. f.jfrm E io>--\ Best fim?h—A. S-?yb. " Straiphtest ploWiit.-mc- ■-,„ th--eromicl. 105,—.! r: r-j- " B-l. Thr-dmrsV ri,-,t p.-,r,- ; ten m, „,„•,, K , v ,-, n hv .Meat tiinipajir-'W, (.'rant s-c<o,id \>r\7.o, horse-cover uiv.-ii bv I'. I'nL leson—.\l. Maze. (Jos,. .six-W.st. lea/..; first prize JjM-M. .Maze; M . f .„ IK l ,„•(.„. £1 10*-|,;. Best t«: Z( ;/«l. -Maze: second prize -LI —\\. Dm,!. Best-jrroomod team: ?0s r P f ° n,nt: Se, '° ,,d P'" ize ~-,:- Jf ' , Tidiest turn-