INGENIOUS FARM AND GARDEN IMPLEMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2530, 27 September 1888, Page 2

INGENIOUS FARM AND GARDEN IMPLEMENTS.

In another column will be found an announcement from Mr J. Parr, of Hamilton House, advertising, among other goods, the "Planet, jr." drills, ploughs, &c., together with a testimonial from Mr Castleton, as to their labour-saving capabilities. A trial of these machines was recently made near Bristol, and from a local journal we extract the followingA trial was mode at Lower Farland on Wednesday, August Ist, at which a number of farmers, gardeners, and agricultural implement dealers had an excellent opportunity of practically testing the powers of some ingenious farm and garden implements. The machine which seemed to meet with the greatest approval was the "Planet, jr." combined drill, wheel hoe, cultivator, rake, and plough, and a more marrellous implement could hardly be conceived. It is extremely light., being constructed of the best Bessemer steel, with ash handles, and is worked by one man alone. Its great features are that it drops the seed at regular intervals, at an even depth, and properly covers it again. It will also sow any seed, the size of the holes through which the seed leaves the drum being altered and regulated by a most simple plan. In addition to acting as a drill, there are attachments which convert it into a plough, wheel hoe, cultivator,and rake. All these latter tools were thoroughly tested on a very rough and wet piece of ground, and did their work in an admirable manner. A similarly constructed machine, but without the arrangements for -drilling, also attracted much attention. This was tried first in a field of mangolds, and the way in which, when used as a hoe, it cleared up the weeds showed how much time and labour its use would save. It was further tested in a spot where the weeds were over a foot high, and no difficulty was experienced in removing the rank growth. Another implement exhibited was more suitable for farm work than those already described, as it is somewhat heavier, and is worked by a horse. This is fitted as a hoe and cultivator, and by altering tbe angle of certain portions it will make a furrow sufficiently deep to plant potatoes in, and then by a further alteration will completely close the furrows." These machines were introduced into Waikato last season by Mr Parr, and we believe gave great satisfaction to those who purchased them.