96 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Aua., 1902. 
Agriculture. 
A NEW POTATO PLANTER. 
This is an age of novelty (says the Farmer and Stockbreeder). Altered. 
circumstances demand new methods, and never was there a time when the 
inventive genius had greater scope or was better requited for his work. 
Amongst the latest of the new farm appliances which from time to time we have 
noticed, is a new potato plater, brought out by the Hon. Cecil Jervis, Norton, 
Disney, Notts. This implement is remarkable more for its simplicity than 
intricacy, and by farmers has been spoken of in terms of high praise. The 
block which accompanies shows at a glance the principle of the implement. By 
the old system of hand-planting, 1 acre a day was very hard work for a man. 
It is claimed and demonstrated that by the use of “The Jervis Potato Planter” 
2 acres can be comfortably planted by a man in a day, so that the saving in 
labour is not inconsiderable. Emerson says, “There would be more tillers of 
the soil if the work could be brought breast high,’ and the doctrine expounded 
by the eminent essayist finds.practical application in this new appliance. Not 
only is the exertion of stooping done away with and time economised, which is 
equivalent to economy of the labour bill, but regularity of’work is ensured. . Tt 
is claimed that the labourer can walk along the furrows at walking speed. 
Three potatoes are taken at a timefrom a hopper, slung over the shoulder, and 
dropped into the planter. It takes them accurately, and the seed is deposited 
with equal accuracy. ‘The hopper is hollowed in the side, and made tojfit the 
body, so that it does not sway with the motion of walking. Not long ago a 
trial took place on Mr. Alfred Simpson’s farm at Allerthorpe, near Pocklington, 
where its work gave great satisfaction to a large number of farmers. The 
inventor was demonstrator, and set seven rows of seed at the rate of an acre in 
three hours and twenty minutes. This was accomplished by the use of a cart, 
but when planting from sacks on the ground an acre was covered in four hours— 
very good work indeed. 
