May 3, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



329 



The vast majority of the Mexicans use a forked stick, and this is the only method of 

 handling which was observed in old Mexico, where pear feednig is very extensively 

 practised. 



Chopping the Pear. 



This is discussed at some length in U.S. Bulletin No. 74, at p 16 ; the 

 matter is so important that the possibility of improved machines for the 

 purpose is a question well worthy of the Australian inventor's attention. I 

 have seen pear chopped for dairy cows many a time, but the ordinary chaff- 

 cutter has been employed, and the pear has not been cut very fine. This 

 method is, for other reasons, out of date. 



In southern Texas, Dr. Griffiths (U.S. Bulletin 71) informed us in 1905 

 (fifteen years ago !), that two machines to which he draws attention arc* 

 both set so as to cut the pear into 1-inch or l|-inch pieces He says : — 



0«'ing to the succulent nature, the whole thing is practically macerated in the 



■ operation. It is the practice to set these machines up in the pa>tures convenient to pear 

 and water. The pear is cut down, hauled to the machines in waggons or carts, chopped, 

 reloaded, and hauled out again to be fed in troughs constructed for that purpose. 



For the particulars and accompanying illustrations of these machines we 



are again indebted to Dr. Griffiths' bulletin. Fig. 2 shows a machine that 



■ consists of a solid cast-iron wheel, 4 feet in diameter, with two knives 

 arranged ar, a narrow angle with the radius on one of its faces. Behind each 



Fig. 2. — A type of Pear Cutter in use in Texas, U.S.A. 

 Feed platform and chute on the left, and carrier or ele\ ator to the right. 



knife, hollowed out of the face of the solid casting, there is a pocket extending 

 the length of the radius. The front face of this wheel is plain, save for 

 these pockets, which receive the chopped pear, and carry it out of the 

 anachine. The knives are bolted on to the face of the wheel over the pockets. 



