RANSOMES' " GUIDTOP " HORSE PLOUGH .sx As specialists in the production of tillage implements suitable for varying local conditions , Messrs .sx Ransomes , Sims & Jefferies , Ltd. , Ipswich , have long had an excellent reputation , and it is in keeping with their policy and that reputation that they should now introduce the " Guidtop " plough .sx As might be gathered from the designation , this is an implement designed for use in those districts in Scotland where it is required to turn and set up the furrow so as to leave a " guid top , " as it is styled colloquially , and so it meets very faithfully the requirements of the local farmers .sx This plough differs from its immediate predecessor , the " Gudekut S , " inasmuch as it is a share point pattern instead of a bar point one .sx Coulters and shares are available for lea and stubble work , and either two wheels or a headwheel can be fitted .sx The standard fitting is a steel breast , two wheels , a solid coulter with a flat stalk and a wing for stubble work , together with a straight edge and hammer spanner , the price being 9 2s .sx 6d .sx A solid coulter and wing for lea work cost 12s .sx 9d .sx extra , and when a single headwheel is supplied in place of the usual two-wheel fitting , a reduction of 17s .sx 6d .sx is made .sx Following on the fall of the price of petrol in the United States , it is reported that drastic cuts have been made in the quotations for crude oils , and that these reductions should have an influence on the demand for low grade oils for tractor operation .sx THE " TILT " TRACTOR HAY SWEEP .sx WHATEVER differences of opinion there may be among British farmers as to the exact suitability of some of the modern agricultural engineering inventions to their precise conditions , there are no illusions as to the effectiveness of the tractor sweep , for this is recognised on all hands as a big labour saver and as a most efficient implement under all circumstances .sx Indeed , there is a distinct possibility that before long steps will be taken to extend its application to corn growing and thereby make use of its time-saving propensities in the sweeping up of untied corn .sx Such a state of affairs bespeaks for any new tractor sweep a favourable reception , particularly at this season of the year , so that the following details of the " Tilt " pattern , that is made under licence by Messrs .sx Fisher , Humphries & Co. , Ltd. , Pershore , will be of particular interest .sx This newcomer has been well tried out , and in one day of ten hours has collected and carried to the stack 42 tons of hay .sx With its help , nine ricks were put up in eleven days , representing approximately 400 tons .sx Its capabilities are succinctly set out as follow :sx It carries 15 cwts .sx to a ton at one load ; sweeps 20 acres per clay ; handles four tons an hour , and can economic-ally carry hay half a mile to the rick .sx Among the special features of the design is the one that ensures the weight of the sweep and the hay being carried entirely on the tractor .sx The attachment is to the back axle only , and is arranged to bring the load on those parts of the tractor most suitable mechanically to take the strain .sx As the .sx sweep is not connected to the front axle of the tractor , steering and control are described as being quite as easy as with the tractor alone , and the sweep can be turned in the same radius as the tractor .sx The teeth of the sweep are positively lifted and lowered by a screw operated by a hand wheel within easy reach of the tractor driver , a most important factor in facilitating rapid travel , especially over rough or undulating fields .sx When unloading , the teeth can be quickly lowered and the tractor reversed , thus depositing the load without the driver having to leave his seat .sx The " Tilt " sweep has been specially designed to attach to the " Fordson " tractor , and , we under-stand , it can be supplied to fit to either the old or the new model .sx Fixing , it is as well to point out , does not necessitate the drilling of holes or otherwise making alterations to the tractor , and so the attachment can be easily fitted or removed by unskilled labour in surprisingly little time .sx The cost of the sweep is 35 carriage paid .sx The sweep is made of excellent material throughout , and is of robust design to meet hard service under all conditions .sx The teeth are of selected pitch pine , with points of rustless aluminium alloy .sx The production of steam engines , boilers , internal-combustion engines and motors , agricultural implements and machinery , machine tools , etc. , in Poland during last year , says an official British report , amounted to from 30 to 50 per cent .sx of that of 1929 .sx Danish imports of mowing and reaping machines are stated to be chiefly of German origin , which is confirmed by the latest official figures , those for 1929 .sx The total tonnage then imported was 3,576 .sx of which Germany supplied 1,585 , the United States 796 , Sweden 613 , Great Britain 244 , and Canada 208 .sx RANSOMES' " LIGHTNING " STACKER .sx MESSRS .sx RANSOMES , SIMS & JEFFERIES , LTD. , Ipswich , have added to their already extensive range of agricultural machinery by the introduction of a new elevator the " Lightning " stacker .sx This is an efficient portable machine of the pole-lift type , which is extremely simple to set , and can be easily folded or unfolded by one man , while , of course , Messrs .sx Ransomes' customary high standard of workmanship and materials is maintained in its construction .sx One of the most interesting points to note is that , in the production of this machine , weight has been reduced without any loss in strength by the use of electrically-welded mild steel wherever possible in .sx place of the usual cast-iron , which thus renders the stacker easily hauled by one horse .sx Other outstanding features include the hopper , which is of steel , and is fixed to the frame of the stacker , the top of which is only 4 ft .sx 5 in .sx from the ground ; the trough , which is of well-seasoned timber , suitable braced ; and the elevating gear , which is similarly robust and extremely simple .sx In place of the wooden rake heads with steel tines , this machine possesses new all-steel rake heads in which the tines are welded , and which , it is claimed , far surpass any previous design .sx The rake chains are of steel and easily adjustable when the machine is folded or unfolded , and there is an unbreakable tightening device at the top of the trough of electrically-welded mild steel .sx An adjustable wind hood is also provided at the top of the trough .sx The road wheels , which are of steel , have 3 in .sx wide tyres , the front wheels being fitted with grabs for steadying the stacker when at work .sx The stacker is available for horse or tractor draft .sx THE " S.A.I. " ARTIFICIAL MANURE .sx DISTRIBUTOR .sx IN view of the enormous amount of attention that is being devoted by farmers , research workers , agricultural chemists and agricultural engineers to the efficient distribution of artificial fertilisers , the arrival of a new distributor on the market becomes an event of some importance , for it is bound to have been influenced by much of the experimental and research work that has been conducted within the last two or three years , and is therefore likely to be an extremely efficient and up-to-date type .sx Such conclusions , we gather , are wholly justified in the case of the new " S.A.I. " artificial manure distributor , which is now introduced by Messrs .sx Barclay , Ross & Hutchison , Ltd. , Aberdeen , a branch of Scottish Agricultural Industries , Ltd. , for we are assured that this machine has been specially constructed to meet the demand for a type that will sow efficiently the new concentrated complete fertilisers , as well as any other class , and that it has been entirely designed and exhaustively tested with this specific object in view .sx The results of the tests , we learn , have surpassed anything the makers have hitherto seen in the form of regular and accurate distribution , while the quantity that can be sown varies from as low as -cwt .sx to 20 cwts .sx per acre .sx All controls are handily arranged , and the machine can be adjusted and regulated in a moment by operating a single lever while in motion .sx An outstanding claim , in view of the material that is usually sown these days , is that there is no bridging , a success that is obtained because the stirrers or agitators revolve in the opposite direction to the distributing rollers and effectively prevent it .sx Another notable point that shows the influence of recent investigations into manure distributor construction is that this machine is quite easily cleaned and may be emptied instantly , while the various parts are made and adjusted to template and are therefore interchangeable .sx Light draft , durability of design and material , and attractive price are other features of a distributor that can be had in 8 and 9 ft .sx sowing widths .sx THE " TACO " TRACTOR GOVERNOR .sx Messrs .sx N. R. Collings & Co. , 28 , Shortmead Street , Biggleswade , inform us they have recently concluded arrangements with the manufacturers for the sole selling concession for Great Britain for the " Taco " governor for " Fordson'' tractors and " Ford " trucks .sx For some years now Messrs .sx Collings have been importing these fittings , and it is because they have found them to be so efficient that they have decided to take over the sole selling rights .sx Testimonials we have seen point to the extreme sensitivity of the " Taco " in operation , it being stated that when the plough is being drawn out of the furrow at the headland and the load taken off , the governor throttles down immediately and so eliminates unnecessary wear and tear to a pronounced extent .sx Further , the governor has proved to be essential in thrashing , where it maintains the belt speed at the correct rate throughout .sx The latest model of the governor now being marketed has been specially designed for the new " Fordson , " and it is quickly and easily installed .sx It is of the fly-ball type , ball bearing throughout , and a special feature of it is the dash control , a most convenient arrangement .sx The governor is mounted on the left side , where it does not interfere with the generator installation or other equipment .sx EDMONDS' COMBINED PRESSER AND SEEDER .sx ONE of the most urgent problems confronting farmers is the reduction of tillage costs , and here is an example of how a noted tractor ploughing con-tractor , Mr. P. J. Edmonds , Itchen Abbas , near Winchester , introduces an element of considerable economy into the work he undertakes for his customers .sx It takes the form of a combined presser and seeder , which , together with a tractor plough , enables multiple operations to be done simultaneously with a big saving in cost , labour and time .sx The presser is made up for use behind a self-lift tractor plough , and in the case illustrated is for a 4-furrow implement .sx It can be built as a 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 6 wheeler , the 2 , 3 and 4 wheel sizes being fitted with a land wheel to give stability on sidling or uneven ground .sx The construction of the frame is of wrought-steel , with ends or cheeks of cast-iron .sx The presser wheels are of a special pattern , having a face giving good penetration , and possessing , as far as possible , self-cleaning properties .sx The seedbox is described as of the latest pattern and so designed that the weight of the seed corn is kept as far forward as possible in order to avoid making the implement tail heavy .sx In the earlier designs the box was more or less vertical , and the weight of the corn was therefore practically all over the rear member of the presser frame .sx The box , as will be seen from our illustrations , is carried on two saddle members , which are secured to both the front and rear frame members .sx The tongue at the front end of the frame is adjust-able to suit various heights of tractor drawbar and to enable the presser frame to be kept level .sx The seeder drive sprocket is so mounted that it can be disengaged by the tractor driver when traversing the headlands and , of course , no seed is sown while the machine is thus out of gear .sx