The Modern Way of Lime Spreading
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AS with many other processes on the farm, that of lime spreading has become mechanized. Agriculturists will not need to be told of the many drawbacks to hand spreading— inefficiency, waste, the menace to the health of the farm labourer, etc.
Mechanical spreading overcomes all the problems attendant upon the old method of hand shovelling, at least, the method as incorporated in the Anthony-Thompson machine does.
The spreading unit consists essentially of. a steel body for mounting on a commercial-vehicle chassi s, being similar in construction to an ordinary steel tipping body. Across the body there is a number of baffles so shaped and positioned as to direct the material to be spread on to spiral conveyOrs, of which there are loin..
These conveyors are arranged longitudinally along the floor of the body, being supported in -bearings which are carried in a rigid channel-frame structure mounted on the outside.
The drive to the conveyors Is by chains and chain wheels from the power take-off on the gearbox of the vehicle. When the conveyors are rotated, the material to be spread is forced towards the discharge tube and valve into the spreading chamber, and so on to the ground.
A spring-loaded disc, mounted on and free to move laterally along the conveyors, forms the valve controlling the opening and sealing of the discharge tube. Pressure of the material, through the action of the conveyors, overcomes the spring to open the valve and, when the conveyors cease revolving, the spring returns the disc to prevent leakage when the spreader is not actually distributing any material.
One important factor in any form of spreading is that of obtaining a covering of equal density. This is achieved in the Anthorky-Thompson machine by equipping the spreading chamber with specially s ii. aped and positioned staggered vanes which serve to break up the flow of material.
The roof of the body is made watertight and it is equipped with quickly adjuitable manhole-type covers.
We 'understand that, with these machines, a 5-ton load can he spread in 15 minutes. It should be mentioned that the special body, which is made by Anthony Hoist, Ltd., of Park Royal, London, in collaboration with the sole concessionnaire for the outfit—E. R. Thompson and Co.. 69, Victoria Street, St. Albans—is removable to allow the vehicle to used for other purpose-.
The price of the spreader is £500, which sum covers the fitting to customers' own chassis.