H.—s
6
could be imagined from the show of bulls, there being several beautiful cows in first-class condition and showing a great deal of quality. The Herefords were represented by two fine cows bred by Mr. Cox. The show of Jersey and Alderney cattle was very creditable, but the cows showed more quality than the bulls. These cattle should come into greater favour, owing to the extreme richness of their milk, for crossing with other breeds, if dairying is to play an important part in the farmer's future. The Ayrshires comprised a good lot of cattle, the majority of which were exhibited by Mr. Little, who took nearly all the prizes. The same exhibitor was also successful in the milkingcattle class, a fine Ayrshire cow of his beating a Devon. The fat cattle were a very superior lot, and would have held their own in any show. The best bullock was bred and fed by Mr. Garforth, and was well fed and fattened, the meat being laid on evenly and well, and the weight of the carcase must be something out of the common. There were some remarkably good cattle in the pens of three-year-old bullocks, and the competition was close in the other classes. The number of draught horses entered was very disappointing, and, though the quality was fairly good, this was the weakest part of the show ; and, bearing in mind the large export trade that has been carried on for some time past, it might have been supposed that the breeders would have taken this opportunity of exhibiting as many of their stud stock as possible. The stallions were a well-bred lot, showing plenty of bone, but collectively were not of the high class that ought to be seen at a Metropolitan Show; but the mares, though few in number, were very good, and of a more even character than the stallions. The pigs, all in the highest condition, showed an improvement on the exhibits of last year, and were of a superior class. The Berkshires were the most numerous, and a really excellent collection, making the competition very close in many instances. The Yorkshire, though not such a favourite as the Berkshire, was well represented by some fine pigs of the large and middle breed. The collection of implements at the Canterbury show is always the finest and most complete to be seen in the colony, and this year was no exception; in fact, there was a substantial increase in the number of entries. Ploughs and other cultivating implements were shown in great numbers and variety by the colonial makers, whose patterns and good workmanship are so well and favourably known. Messrs. Booth and McDonald showed a cultivator on Parkerson's patent, which should prove of great use on lea land. It consists of four skeiths, set diagonally across the frame, and four grubbing-tines behind, but running between the skeiths. The skeiths can be set to slice the land to a depth of 6in., when the tines could effectually tear it up. A great many strong and useful harrows were shown, and, with the exception of the " Rainsforth," at Messrs. Morrow, Bassett, and Co.'s stand, made on the same principle as a grubber but with many more teeth, and the patent tine harrows shown by the Messrs. Booth and McDonald, call for no special notice. The tines in the latter fit into grooved bars, kept in their proper positions by hollow tubes, with bolts inside these tubes the width of the leaf, which hold the whole leaf rigid when screwed up; the loss of the tines is prevented by this arrangement, and the harrow can be taken to pieces much more easily. Drills for sowing two rows of mangolds or turnips and manure were exhibited by Messrs. Reid and Gray, and Duncan. That made by the former firm had separate tubes for the manure and seed, so that guano or any other strong artificial manure, which is not desirable to mix with the seed, can be used. Messrs. Duncan's drill was fitted with their patent screw to force the manure out, which is delivered down the same tube as the seed. Both machines have two rollers, one in front and one behind the seed-tube. A broadcast seed-sower, of a new pattern, made by Messrs. Booth and McDonald, has some useful improvements. The seed-boxes, instead of being in a line, are placed one in front and one behind the axle, in this way balancing the machine. The boxes slide on a fixed iron bar, and are held in position by grip-screws, and can be run inwards so that neither overlaps the wheels, a great convenience in going through gateways, and very much easier on the horses than the old way of resting the boxes on the shafts. Both wheels are geared to drive the machine, and one chain is used to work both boxes, doing away with all cogged wheels and making the machine a very simple one. Messrs. Kelsey Brothers show a large drill to sow any soft stable-manure or guano. The manure falls from the hopper on to rollers, to which it adheres; these as they revolve are scraped clean by a series of knives, and the manure falls down the cups and is drilled in. It is rather a heavy machine, and the manure would have to be well rotted and free from long straws ; but it is certainly a better way of using up the farm-yard manure than the prevailing method. Some useful winnowing machines were exhibited, among them one of Rosier's patent machines, at Messrs. Andrews and Beaven's stand, which has a very large sieve-area, and will clean and dress all kinds of grass-seed and grain ; it can be worked by steam or manual power, and is so easy that one man can dress over two hundred bushels of grass-seed per diem. An uniform supply of seed to the riddles is insured by the working of agitators in the hopper ; and another advantage is that the riddles can be adjusted and altered while the machine is in motion. Messrs. Booth and McDonald exhibited a smaller machine, also Rosier's patent, capable of cleaning a large quantity of seed, as the riddles work the whole width of the machine instead of inside it, as most others do, thus gaining a greater sieve-area. The riddles are fixed in gangs, and each gang is suited for one class of seed ; scrapers to prevent the seed lodging are placed on the riddles and on the lower screen. Single and double-cellular corn-separators were shown by Messrs. Moor and Co.; instead of being made of wire like the ordinary rotary screen, which they resemble in shape, the separators are made of sheet metal with small cups or depressions stamped all over them, which carry the small seeds and light grain as the cylinder revolves far enough round for them to drop into a small trough placed inside, whence they flow down a spout clear of the machine. The good and heavy grain is delivered at the end of the cylinder. The machine is easily worked by a lad, and is said to have given great satisfaction.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.