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Had plenty of seat time today. As it was a good forecast for the day, I thought I'd better do some catch up round the garden, green and verges. Front hedges and bushes needed trimming, so that was the first job. After a run out for fresh petrol supply. Next came the lawn and verge outside the house. When I'd returned from my week down south, the grass had shot up. Even though it was wet, on Tuesday, I cut the green and verges on a slightly higher setting than normal. The cut grass was left lying. Today I thought I'd better do something about it as it looked untidy. I wasn't sure if the sweeper would pick it up as it was, so using the Black Horse and a scarifier/rake thingy the Showman gave me a couple of years back, I roughed up the lying grass. Swapped the rake for the sweeper and got the grass cleaned up. Then it was the turn of the C-125 and cutter deck. Green and verges mowed, albeit slowly, as the grass was still quite wet. While doing the green, the deck decided to lose a wheel. This necessitated a workshop visit and both wheels were changed for those off the dead side discharge. Though a slightly larger diameter, with the rear of the deck dropped a notch, mowing commenced with no further mishaps. All this took around 5ltrs of petrol and nine hours, including removing and cleaning the deck and tractor. Which I always do after use. Still got the green and verges to sweep, but they will be done Monday or Tuesday. Rain forecast for all day tomorrow. Well it is a Bank Holiday weekend.

Apologies for being off topics however this is a really great charity event. If you are in Norfolk this weekend this is worth a look, where else will you see a convoy of over 80 trucks. Some details here https://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/Great-Yarmouth-East-Coast-Truckers-Annual-Convoy/details/?dms=3&feature=1001&venue=0096899 and our videos from last year's event

Down in Dorset for a few days, yesterday we went to the GDSF. Lots of moaning this year about queues to get in, awful loos, etc etc, we had a great day, the only queue was to get out Here's some photos...

Nice to see the Speedex, made by Mr H pond brother to Mr C Pond who made Wheelhorse,

I wish we had some ground we could grow stuff in and use the tractors on. Just suppose I'll have to be content with mowing the green and verges.

I was given this a couple of days ago, just assumed it was an old tractor jack. Last night I cleaned up the makers name cast into it. A quick search has shown that Trewhella bros' were an Australian firm (who also produced the Monkey Winch) and it was originally designed for jacking out tree stumps. I'm not sure how old it is, and, as it is seized, I'm not even sure how it works! Still, a nice little thing that I'm happy to have.

I found this guy about six inches off the ground climbing my tomato plant. Proof positive and turtles are agile and proficient climbers in secret

Isn’t that a tortoise

For a look of some early and rare garden tractors made in America this page is a great resource. http://raregardentractors.com/gardentractors-for-sale.html BTW, the Pond brothers started with Shaw manufacturing company that made the Shaw Du-All tractor in Galesburg Kansas just about 100 miles north of me. From Gas Engine Magazine " The Speedex Tractor Corporation was founded in 1935 by Harold Pond, who is considered the developer of the first four wheel riding garden tractor in America. Harold Pond was associated in the late 1920s with Stanley W. Shaw of the Shaw Mfg. Company in Galesburg, Kansas, who fabricated walk behind garden tractors and outdoor power equipment from reclaimed motorcycle and automobile parts. Harold Pond, Elmer Pond and Glen Heilman ( Harold Ponds Brother-in-Law) all worked for Shaw MFG at one time. These three dispersed to Ohio and Indiana to form their own companies and develop their own tractors. Harold Pond developed the Speedex line of tractors in Ravenna, Ohio. Harold's brother Elmer and his son Cecil developed the Pond line of tractors which later became named Wheel Horse in the South Bend, Indiana area. Harold's brother-in-law Glen Heilman developed the Garden-All line of tractors in Mishawaka, Indiana. Glen was married to Harold's wife's sister. These three, who grew up in Galesburg, Kansas, were responsible for many innovations in the lawn and garden tractor industry. While Harold was working for Shaw he was assigned the territories of Ohio and Pennsylvania. During that time he developed the Speedex walk-behind tractor. In 1935 he founded Speedex Tractor Company and began making a riding tractor called the Model B Speedex. It had tiller steering, Briggs & Stratton Model ZZ air cooled engine, and the tractor utilized a Ford Model A transmission and a Ford model T rear axle which was narrowed to suit the tractor. The Speedex Model B was the first riding four wheel garden tractor with an air cooled engine and pneumatic tires. According to a letter from Mrs. Harold Pond: 'When Harold brought out his first riding tractor, the Speedex Model B, it outsold his walking model by far. He started a national advertising campaign on his new riding tractor and they sold like Carter sold liver pills. We were married in March 1939 and did not take our honeymoon until the slack season commenced."

So there were 3 Wheelhorses there then... sort of...

Raising a garden isn't easy, but we managed to grow everything we need since spring. I'm working on building a greenhouse next. Lots of new plants started, 50 potato hills, 12 hill each of cantaloupe, cucumber, squash, zucchini, and watermelon. 4 rows of beans two large rows of okra. A dozen pepper and tomato plants ready to plant along with 6 to 8 of each already producing. My old Bolens and Montgomery Wards helped a bunch.

Thanks mates, I have a desire to grow all our food for the health benefits and self reliance. The soil is great black topsoil with lots of aged cow manure. The paleness comes from grass clippings that I spread out to hold moisture, hinder weed growth, and add nutrients into the soil

Very rare to see a Speedex garden tractor let alone the very early Bolens RAM circa late '50s. I must get there one day.....

I've been expecting that. I'd no time for photo's.

Without photos it didn't happen .

Same here Norm.

Looks like a productive garden . Is your soil chalk based, or sandy?. Looks very pale in areas. That Hookworm is a species of Privet Hawk Moth (in UK), known in N/America as a Sphinx Moth. Can be up 5 inches Wingspan. The hook is harmless, but can be whip like in movement reacting to attack.

Nice to see you gardening organically. Those Hook worms are big b'stards!

Comedy Gold

That's a lovely old mower you got there Chris. I got a small collection of vintage cylinder mowers. The 14" is the ideal size for a town garden. I have used these mowers in the past and it certainly keep you fit!

Both I think .

My mate Steve popped in for a cuppa and I thought he could do with a bit of exercise . It ran as sweet as a nut

Wow. Chris, I don't suppose I could have a copy or borrow it to make a copy? Found my pictures. It looks like my monkey jack is a 10 ton version, I didn't realise they made different version. First picture also shows a high lift jack for comparision

Awesome work, would expect nothing less

Things are really starting to grow, I may till up a 4th plot of garden