TURNIP AND SEED DRILLS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2758, 18 March 1890, Page 2

TURNIP AND SEED DRILLS.

The old system of land broadcast sowing will'soon be a thing of the past, especially as it affects corn, turnips, mangolds, &c.' In almost every branch of industry machinery has taken the place of land labour to such an extent that were the machines stopped to-morrow, thousands of men who call themselves efficient artisans, &c., would 1 have to undergo another apprenticeship. I Hand work is too slow and irregular, as , compared with the dash and finish of the machine. That machinery is au incalculable boon to the huuian family is now accepted as an incontrovertible fact, but nowhere is it more manifest than in agricultural pursuits. Speed, regularity and efficiency appear to be the three points which demand the practical attention of farm machine manufacturers. The rough, clumsy, arid inefficient implements of our boyhood, or 50 years ago, have given place to handy, light, .time saving, and easily manipulated tools- and machines. Were it not so, the bread loaf would be much dearer through the impossibility of getting a sufficient area of land well cultivated, sown, and harvested. In these days farming is made comparatively easy. Ploughs will almost go by themselves without laborious steering. The disc harrow saves a lot of tiring clod-hoppiug. No one now thinks of swinging the scythe in hsuvy crops for weeks together, with but little intermission. The mower and binder has coine to man's help, saving his strength and energies. The wearing thud of the flail, as it was wont to beat on from autumn to spring, is no longer heard. There may be somo left who can swintr a flail without cracking their heads, but there i.s no need for it now. The steam thrasher hums out a stack in the spans of time a (lailuian would be preparing his floor. No after process, all is ready for the mill or market, and the farmer is at liberty to prepare for his future crups. One necessary implement on a farm is too often disregarded, though perhaps foremost in importance, viz., the drill, ploughing, harrowing, and all preparatory work may be perfection, but if the seed is not put in evenly, and with a positive feed of manure, it is unreasonable to. expect a good crop. One of the agriculturist's difficulties has been to get an inexpensive yet thoroughly efficient drill, one that will sow everything —grass, clover, turnips, oats, wheat, &c., at the same time distribute evenly any given quantity of artificial manure. Seeing one of these complete machines led to the foregoing remarks. .The best drill that has come under our notice at a low price, combining simplicity and efficiency, and within the reach of most farmers, is a newly imported article to be seen in the implement warehouse of T. and iS. Morrin and Co., Limited, ironmongers, and known as "The Farmer's Favourite," with wizard fertilizer attachment. A close inspeetion shows how thought and mechanical skill have been at work. Though the working parts are very simple, we have not seen a machine equal at even a much higher price. Farmers will do well to consider whether it will pay them to lose seed and waste valuable manures, by using inferior machines, when a much improved implement, whijh any ordinary farming man easily manage, is at their door. The saving iu seed alone, which is deposited by force feed without the possibility of breaking it, will speedily repay the cost of the implement. The manure distributor is perfection, and the arrangement for turnip and small seeds is ingenious, and marked by distinctive features of superiority. A page of descriptive matter would not be equal to five minutes inspection. We strongly recommend every farmer to sea for himself, and if his cultivation is not sufficient to warrant his purchase of a machine, he should at least arrange that his crops'are put in by the most perfect machine yet introduced int.) this agricultural district. " The Farmer's Favourite" drill is for grain, seed, and manure,—Weekly News. ,