Wheat growing was in its infancy in Australia so the varities grown were more suited to overseas conditions.

When these varieties when gown in bigger areas diseses gradually developed  so a solution had to be found to cure the problem.  Treating the grain with various compounds was tired.  A successful method was to mix a fungicide in water then soak the grain before sowing.  A machine was needed so this wet pickler evolved and was put into commercial production.

The grain was soaked in this trough, drained then sown. This process was done daily rather than doing enough seed for many days.

Some of the modern air seeders are able to do this process as the grain is sown.

Dry pickling soon evolved as more convenient way to do this process in bulk. Other machines are demonstrated in the shed nearby.

CATEGORY: Ledwich