The evening times., 1899-09-25
NEW SOUTH WALES TRADE.
The successfaT Introduction of Many
American Implements.
PAN HEADG TIC GiGGaW

The successf3T Introduction of Many
American Implements.
PAN HEADG TIC GiGGaW
American sagrlcultural implements in
New South WALES is made the subject of
report to the State Department by G. w.
Bell. United States Consul at Sydney. In
his report the consul says:
THE successful introduction OF Ameri-
can-made agricultural implements in New
South Walesi is, comparatively recent, as
the total importations of such articles into
this country in 1897 was but $469,35o, while
during 1898 there was a total of S605,S3
worth imported. Until few years ago
there was a real prejudice against the
fimsy,' light, and unsubstantial Yankee
implement. But few enterprising agents
stayed with the trade, and gradually 1t
dawned upon the people that Americans
were applying scientific principles in the
construction of their implements, and they
made no sacrifice of strength or durability
by reducing the weight to the minimum
Fifteen years ago, l am informed, the
greater portion of the furrow plows used
in New South Wales were OF colonial
make, the imported ones coming almost
exclusively from England. The American
plow was considered too light for the
heavy, compact soil SO common in the col
ony The frame of the old-style plow
was made wholly of iron or steel and was
about as long as the moral law. Inc
moldboard was some three or feet in
length, with turn that hardly turned the
furrow. The Introduction OF the plow COM
mon to our farms, with the short beam and
short and abrupt moldboard. was rather
difficult and slow, but 1t finally won
place by coming into use with those whose
farms were of light friable soil. While
the single-furrow sulky plow is not often
seen more gang plows turning two, three,
and often four burrows, are used In pro-
portion than in any part OF our country
with which ! am acquainted. AS the soii
is usually stiff and compact, pioW turn
ing 14-inch furrow is rather uncommon.
The usual plow cuts but ten to twelve
inches. The shares on plows Tor Austraila
must be of the best material. am IN
clined to think that now fully half the for
eign-made plows used in the colony are OF
American make.
"I have seen none of what we call corn
cultiyators, either riding or walking. though
there are many spring-toothed cultivators
that answer well for cultivator and harrow
work These serve to pulverize the ground;
and as most small grain is sown with drills.
the spring toothed implement is generaily
in use. Grain and fertilizer drills are re-
cent lnpOTldllUlS. FOi q hS"
there is considerable use of fertilizers in
this colony, and wherever these are used
for wheat fields the drill has found place,
as it is the most economic implement for
the double purpose Of saving the grain and
distributing the fertilizer. Most OF these
now come from the United States. Inc
wheel puIverizers, or rolling cutters, may
also come under this head, and OF the many
in use the United States furnishes goodly
portion.
The United States has fair share of the
harvester trade, not only in New South
Wales but in all the Australian colonies.
American reapers and binders are not only
very attractive in appearance, but they are
light to handle Of light draft, strong, dur
able. and rarely out of order. l am almost
convinced that nine-tenths of the reapers
and binders sold in Australia are of Ameri-
| can make Our manufacturers have salts
| fed the requirements of this market, and
| they are now reaping their reward. We
| have a good trade in mowers in South
| Wales, but in this machine we are not lar
ahead of the English make, and not much
ahead, if any, in our sales in this market
| American engines-stationary, port
| able. and traction-have failed to win the
| favor / think they deserve. While those
used generally give good satisfaction, they
i
| rable We should have better success in
this line. Here, as a rule. people do not
| feed hay as we do but nearly all coarse
| proyender is cut with a machine made for
the purpose and is fed in form calie1
| 'chaff' In the market or among horse
| drivers or owners one seldom hears the
word hay 'chaff' is the common express
| sion. Some of the chaff cutters are large
| machines that are taken from farm TO
| farm, as our thrashers are, when the hay.
either loose or bound in sheaves, is cut
| by the ton. These chaff cutters are almost
all of English or colonial make. We have
| no share of this trade. The power, called
| By us horsepower, used in running these
chaff cutters, as well as those used for
| Shelters wood savers, searers. and the
like. are most all of English make. The
American horsepower has not quite salts
| fed the people in the matter OF strength.
In harrows we lead in New South Wales
markets. The people here use excellent
machinery. and none but the best VIII suit
| them; so the steel-frame joint harrow and
tthe-d disk harrow or pulverizer are required.
The frame must be light, strong, and cas-
| lily handled.
THE American thrasher is not in favor
| in Australia | do not know why, as
| believe it TO be superior to all others; but
for some reason the people do not like it.
| In Australia. the straw of wheat Is lighter
| for the yield of grain, and cleaner from
| all weeds and trash, than in any country l
| ever saw, possibly excepting Normandy,
| in France 1t seems to me that our thrash
ers are especially adapted to the conditions
| here but the farmers do not buy them.
| The area planted in corn in New South
| Wales is not great, and there are few far
| mers who raise much OF this cereal. Last
| year there were but 2G9,5S6 acres in the
colony. The corn planter is used, but gen.
| orally it is a hand planter or a single
| row machine The double row, two or four
| horse check-row planter, is hardly known
by the farmers, and as it is not yet need
ed, it will be some time before it will be
| common in the market. With the small
acreage of corn grown, the corn shelter is,
of course not in very extensive use. Our
country furnishes most of the shelters for
this market great majority is of the
small single-hole type. There are also
| several with two holes, and few-yery
| few-large ones run by steam power.
| What we call wagon especially the
| our-wheeled vehicle which We style a
farm wagon is unknown in Australia.
There are buses, stages. and some car
| riages, and a very few transit wagons, but
nothing like the American wagon is seen.
| Here, the cart is omnipresent. Articles
from twenty to- forty feet long-telegraph
and telephone poles, long pieces of structu-
| raj steel, and the like-are balanced on a
cart hauled by one, two, or three horses
| tandem. We have fairly good carriage
and buggy trade, but it should be increased,
and could be were freights reduced. Wine,
| cider, and other presses are being made in
the colonies to some extent. but the Ameri-
can presses seem to be the most popular,
| o,J will ,,roho hI,y hold the market AS all