From the Argus, Friday 4 August 1905, page 8 ORCHARD PRUNING COMPETITION AT DONCASTER An interesting competition in orchard pruning was held yesterday at Mr T Petty's orchard, Doncaster, under the auspices of the Doncaster Fruitgrowers' Association. There were no fewer than 28 competitors, all young men, most of them owning orchards themselves or relatives of orchardists in the district. Great pains had been taken by the committee of the association to obtain a fair trial, a very difficult matter in dealing with old trees as their habit of growth becomes much more diverse after they have attained maturity than is the case with young trees. Trees were carefully selected and numbered by stewards before the contest. These included Early Crawford peaches, Golden Beurre, and Williams's Bon Chretien pears and Rymer apples. The pear trees were 40 years old and of great size, the Crawford peaches about 14 years and the other trees eight or ten years. All had made good growth during the past season. Each pruner was allotted four trees, one of each of these varieties, and two hours was the maximum time in which the work had to be completed. Competitors, however, could do the work as quickly as they liked, and one point was allowed for every five minutes under the specified time in which the work was completed. Out of each 100 points allowed 25 was for the shaping of the tree, 25 for pruning to secure fruit for the coming season, 25 for pruning to provide for future fruit crops, and 25 for practical workmanship. Each pruner had to provide his own step ladder, seccateure, and pruning saw. There were six prizes, but they were insignificant, ranging from 38 down to 5. It was not prize-money, but eagerness for a trial of skill, which brought out such a number of competitors, and accounted for the interest displayed in their work. The trial started at a quarter past 1 p.m., and it was soon evident that the men were racing for the honour of being out first, as much as for excellence. Marvellous dexterity was shown with seccateurs and saw, and, to the surprise of the practical orchardists who were interested spectators, the first man out completed his work in 47 minuts. Half of the competitors were under 60 minutes. The last man was through in 100 minutes, 20 minuts under the allotted time. Some of the pruning was highly creditable, but the pace was too fast for work of high excellence. The judges were Messrs A. F. Thiele, Richard Clay, A. E. Thiele and Edwin Lawford well-known local orchardists. Their task was an exceedingly difficult one, and was only completed at dusk. The following are the awards- Fred Petty, Doncaster, 1,067 points (79 min) 1 Herbert Clay, Doncaster, 1,017 points (89 min) 2 G Watson, Doncaster, 1,012 points (93 min) 3 T Petty, jun, Doncaster, 1,010 points (64 min) 4 W Elder, Doncaster, 977 points (70 min) 5 W Duncan, Doncaster, 973 points (49 min) 6 Many year later, Frank told his daughter Joan that he had been out all the previous night courting and had gone straight to the competition without sleep!

Tacoma was built in about 1912

Tacoma was built in about 1912

Tacoma was built in about 1912

Frank and Herbert Petty jointly held a patent on a plough which was Frank's concept. The distinguishing feature of the plough was that it was steerable, it could be guided in and out of fruit trees planted in rows, and so reach areas conventional ploughs could not reach. The plough could be pulled be a tractor or by horses. The plough itself had a seat for the plough operator. The prototype plough was constructed on the chassis of a T Model Ford. The prototype sat for many years unused and forlorn under a pine row on Frank's property. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a grass fire in the late 1960's. Many of the ploughs were manufactured by Daniel Hervey, a machinery maker located in Box Hill.