Twenty-First Annual Sale .sx Gill's Growingly-Popular Event .sx JOHN H. Gill & Sons ( Leeming Bar ) , Ltd. , Leeming Bar , Northallerton , Yorks .sx , recently celebrated their 21st annual sale of second-hand machinery .sx To mark the event a dinner dance was held at the Scotch Corner Hotel and upwards of 200 farmers , friends , and staff were present .sx While it was a second-hand machinery sale that was celebrated , the main feature in the ballroom was a new Massey-Ferguson tractor , which shone quite brilliantly under the spotlight .sx We understand that , while it excited much attention , it did not intrude in any way on the dancing .sx Mr. John H. Gill , the founder of the firm , together with his sons , Messrs .sx John Arthur , Robert William , and Frank ( who are all in the business ) , were , naturally , much in demand , as was Mr. John Sterne , of York , the Massey-Ferguson area manager .sx The highest price obtained at the sale itself was +1,000 for a combine , while a tractor sold for +400 .sx We are informed that these sales are proving growingly successful , there being four times as much machinery at this last one compared with the first .sx Standen Expansion .sx SUCH is the demand for the sugar beet harvesting and other machinery manufactured by F. A. Standen & Sons Ltd. , Ely , Cambs .sx , that they are already having an extension built to their new factory , and our illustration shows the progress that is being made in this latest enterprise .sx Wallace's Become Fordson Dealers .sx Directors at Signing Ceremony .sx THE signing of a Fordson tractor main dealer agreement between John Wallace & Sons ( Ayr ) , Ltd. , Ayr , and the tractor division of the Ford Motor Co. , Ltd. , Dagenham , Essex , took place recently .sx The sales operations manager of the tractor division , Mr. M. MacDonald , was present- as our photograph shows- to greet two directors of Messrs .sx Wallace , Mr. J. Thompson and Mr. D. K. Henderson .sx This Scottish company has been actively engaged in the tractor business since 1924 , but its history goes back into the 18th century .sx The trading area served is one of small , well-managed farms , largely specialising in milk production and growing early potatoes .sx Both directors believe in the closest personal contact with their customers .sx A large proportion of their business is conducted weekly at premises in Ayr's busy market .sx Lively Interest in Irrigation .sx At Aberdeen Conference .sx A ONE-DAY conference on irrigation , with the emphasis on organic irrigation , held at Westertown , nr .sx Aberdeen , on May 11th , drew an attendance of over 600 people .sx It was sponsored by Farrow & Sons , Ltd. , Spalding , Lincs .sx , and organised by Barclay , Ross & Hutchinson , Ltd. , of Aberdeen .sx Undoubtedly , a factor contributing largely to the success of the conference was that it was held on the farm of Mr. Maitland Mackie , Jun .sx , where a complete organic irrigation system is installed as part of a large-scale slatted floor arrangement for dairy and beef herds .sx The first of the speakers , Mr. Gordon Newman , manager of Reading University farm , confined his comments mainly to water irrigation .sx He emphasised the importance of trying to anticipate " irrigation need , " aired the view that in parts of Scotland irrigation is not an economic proposition , and roundly declared that " irrigation is no excuse for poor cultivations and inadequate manuring .sx " Mr. Trevor Garbett , general manager of Farrow & Sons , Ltd. , put the case for organic irrigation and naturally pointed to the " object lessons " to be learned from Mr. Mackie's installation .sx He claimed that organic irrigation fitted in with slatted floors , and went on to say that poultry houses , especially batteries , " presented no problem .sx " He added that " sheep stored on slats are treated the same as cattle on slats .sx " Another point advanced by Mr. Garbett was that his firm recommended the use of a piston pump for organic irrigation , although under certain circumstances a centrifugal pump might do the job .sx Although with a piston pump , it was necessary to be fairly careful about what went into the pit , a great deal more could go in with " little chance of any harm to the system " than could be allowed with a centrifugal pump .sx The economics of organic and water irrigation systems- always an important matter- were presented by Mr. John Nix , of Cambridge University School of Agriculture .sx He acknowledged that the basic costs of organic irrigation could be " fairly high , " but stressed the economic benefits derived in the way of manurial value and labour saving .sx Practical experience over the last two years with an organic irrigation system in the West Country , i.e. , at Ilminster , Somerset , was given by Mr. David Hawthorne .sx He believed the system to be worthwhile because it got rid of the slurry , avoided wheel damage to the land , prevented river pollution , stopped the " awful waste " of nutrients , and thus enabled the farm to keep up a good level of production .sx The final word- an important one- came from Mr. David Soutar , farm buildings adviser at the North of Scotland College .sx He urged that farmers should adopt a more progressive and positive attitude towards buildings in order to derive full advantage of the " many new technical developments now being designed .sx " But , Mr. Soutar added , " economy in labour in farm buildings is far less likely to be achieved through planning than by 100 per cent .sx mechanisation , although the mass handling of stock and crop will continue to be developed , and the same basic principles of automation as now practised in industry will be adopted on the farm .sx " Lundell " 605 " .sx Latest " Double-Chop " Forage-Harvester .sx IT is the snowballing interest in the mechanical feeding of livestock in various ways , mostly of American genesis , that lies behind the introduction of a new " double-chop " forage-harvester , demonstrated publicly for the first time on May 15th .sx The Lundell " 605 " off-set machine was originally shown by Lundell ( Great Britain ) , Ltd. , Edenbridge , Kent , at the last Smithfield Show ( Dec .sx , p. 1170 ) , and is really the John Deere " 15A , " which the British company is manufacturing under licence .sx We saw it at work in a fine crop of Italian rye grass/ " H.1 " mixture , about 2ft .sx high , on Mr. A. S. Cray's Southdown Farm , Medstead , nr .sx Alton , Hants .sx The two rows of 16 specially-designed " grapefruit " flail knives on the " 605 " took the grass cleanly at about 2in .sx above ground , the width of cut being 60in .sx From those knives the crop was whisked into a 12in .sx dia .sx auger , housed above the flails , and eventually proffered to the secondary cutting assembly- which is also the fan .sx There are usually six cutting knives on this assembly , as on the present occasion , but three can be removed for coarser results .sx The length of the material varied from fragments of 1/2in .sx up to 4in .sx , and the average is said to be 2in .sx The power requirement is about the same as for the well-known " Super 60 " machine , and a Fordson " Dexta " had no difficulty in second gear , although a larger tractor would be needed for the fastest speeds of work .sx At +450 , the price is +55 up on the conventional flail machine .sx The shorter lengths of grass , however , allow easier handling by forage blowers , silo unloaders , auger feeders , side-unloading trailers and other associated equipment for the new techniques .sx But the material also handles well with a fore-loader , it is said , and has zero grazing possibilities as well .sx Haymaking and wilting can be provided for by bolting back a hinged section in the top of the auger housing .sx Consequently the crop flies straight over the auger and on to the field .sx Messrs .sx Lundell say they are working on a maize attachment , but it will probably not be ready until 1962 .sx Co-operating in the demonstration were the local Lundell dealers , Hyde Abbey Motor Works , Ltd. , Winchester .sx ( Reply Card No .sx E. 1132) .sx Massey-Ferguson Tractors with Foot-Pedal Direction Change .sx Torque Converter Models Join Industrial Range .sx CHANGING direction from forward to reverse purely by using the right foot is a feature of two of the tractors in the extended industrial range of Massey-Ferguson , Ltd. , Coventry .sx This is done by combining " shuttle transmissions " with torque converters .sx There are altogether four new tractors and some other modifications and introductions .sx One of the innovations is a basic power unit , called the " 203 " tractor , on which the now established " 710 " digger and an improved " 702 " loader can be mounted .sx The " 203 " which succeeds the " 702 " tractor , incorporates the Perkins " 3-A-152 " diesel engine , with a maximum gross b.h.p. of 38.4 , and the transmission and back axle of the " 65 " tractor .sx A particular quality of the engine is said to be good lugging power at low revs .sx per min .sx - a very necessary requirement of the construction industry .sx Torque characteristics are excellent and power steering is fitted as standard .sx This latter provision cuts down operator fatigue considerably .sx " Topping-up " is now much easier , for the regular points are accessible when the bonnet cover is lifted .sx There is a rugged 11in .sx -dia. dual clutch and the clutch assembly is self-ventilated .sx Transmission brakes of the disc variety operate together or independently , with complete sealing against dirt and water .sx Heavy cast wheels are employed instead of the previous steel disc ones .sx In spite of these improvements the price remains at +880 .sx When this basic unit is known as the " 205 , " the change of name indicates that it has both a torque converter and the " instant reverse " foot-operated direction change system .sx The " instant reversing " is actuated by an unusual accelerator , rather like a three-pronged fork , the centre prong being shorter than those outside , with a foot pedal at each extremity .sx Pressure on the right of the pedals , as they face the driver , produces forward motion , while if the reverse direction is required , the left pedal is depressed instead , at which the tractor instantly goes into reverse .sx Operating either side-pedal rotates , by a linkage device , a rocker valve , because of which oil from the control valve is directed to the clutch units in a " shuttle transmission " unit situated between the torque converter and a sliding mesh gear-box .sx The pedals act first as a clutch and then as a throttle .sx The centre pedal does not rotate the rocker valve .sx As a result , its only effect is to increase engine revolutions without vehicle motion in any direction .sx On this tractor there are two levers , each with two " in-gear " positions , providing 4 gears forward and reverse .sx Another tractor incorporating the torque converter and this novel transmission is the " 65R , " one of the two new industrial versions of the " 65 , " the other being the " 65S .sx " These have the " 4-A-203D " Perkins engine and 58.3 gross maximum b.h.p. While the " 65S " with its more normal transmission has 6 forward gears and 2 reverse , the " 65R , " like the " 205 , " has 4 forward and reverse .sx Prices of these two versions make interesting comparison :sx the " 65S " is +950 ex works , complete with dual brakes , horn and mirror , while the " 65R " is +1,150 with the same accessories .sx Operating a tractor with the " instant reverse " facility is almost literally " child's play .sx " On any job requiring much stopping and starting- such as loading shale- it is a boon to have both hands free for the steering wheel and hydraulic loader , and the speed achieved by skilled operators is remarkable .sx The centre pedal can " rev. " the engine to increase the speed at which the bucket lifts .sx Brakes are on the side of the left foot and there is , of course , no clutch .sx " Instant reversing " has been in America for about three years , many applications being in road rolling .sx Another alteration in the range is that the hydraulics in the " 702 " loader are now of " Cessna " design and the break-away force consequently increases from 10,000 to 14,000lb .sx The American Cessna company is reported to be about to start production in Scotland , where it will assemble this hydraulic equipment .sx The side frames of the " 702 " bucket have also been modified to enable it to fit on to the " 203 .sx " There is a new weight attachment , which we saw fitted on the rear of the " 65R" ; it carries 15 iron weights of 122lb .sx each .sx A sub-soiling attachment , on which a cable-laying fixture can be bolted , is now available for the " 35S " and " 35H " industrial tractors , which are now painted yellow and grey .sx