NEW MACH NERY FOR FARM DRAINAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 October 1946, Page 2

NEW MACH NERY FOR FARM DRAINAGE

RAETIHI FARMERS ATTEND DEMONSTRATION (0.C.) Raetihi, Oct. 3. Accompanied by members of the Raetihi branch of Federated Farmers, Mr. T. H. Brown, branch secretary, attended the recent, demonstration of wartime advances in the development, of labour-saving agricultural machinery hl Id at Massey College, Palmerston North. Speaking to the “Chronicle” staff reporter at Raetihi, M Brown said the demonstration was attended by hundreds of farmers from all parts of the North Island and was of high educative value. Of the many machines demonstrated. Mr. Brown said the Lewis ditching machine, designed by Mr. Guy Lewis, of Alfredon, and built to his specifications, appeared ideal for the type of country which existed in the Waimarino district. Mr. Brown said the machine is an ingenious affair, born of necessity, which may play an important part in making possible farming of existing swamp country in the Dominion.

It comprises essentially two discs five feet in diameter, spaced 1£ inches apart, mounted on a Lame. In operation the discs cut a slice of soil seven inches deep which remains between the discs as they revolve. At the top of the frame, said Mr. Brown, a scraper and platform remove the slice and deposit it at the side of the trench well clear of the machine. Progressive cuts enable a trench up to two feet to be excavated. The machine has been specially designed for work in rough country. It will go through water and will remove the slice of soil. It rides over stumps without damage, and the regularity of the surface of the area being ditched is of no consequence. For farmers concerned with swamp country, interest centred in the Bower wheels attached to tractors for improving the traction of pneumatic tyres, said Mr. Brown. Basically, it comprises a heavy casting which carries a series of spokes. The casting can remain bolted to the tractor and the spokes can be extended quickly beyond the tyre to give additional grip, or withdrawn towards the hub of the wheel to allow of road travel or ordinary field work.

Mr. Brown said close attention focussed on a “Rotoho” machine which combines the two functions of digging a trench and laying tiles in one operation. It was designed and brought into production in England during the war years, and only recently has been taken off the secret list. The reported results in England appeared to be so promising that the Massey College authorities, said Mr. Brown, imported a machine for demonstration purposes with a view to encouraging the use of machinery for drainage work on farms.