FARM TRACTORS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10028, 20 July 1918, Page 8

FARM TRACTORS

MODERN MACHINES

"A CHILD CAN USB IT."

HAS COMB TO STAY.

INTERESTING ADDRESS TO AGRICULTURISTS.

An address of great interest to farmers 'fas given before the Now Zealand Council of Agriculture by Mr G. N. Hall, of Christchurch. Mr Holl said "To deal with this subject in a manner worthy of the occasion, I consider that a commission of experts would have found it necessary to spend at least twelve months in touring the United States and Canada, devoting the wnohf of their time to the subject. I was in the States only about 4J months, in the early part of 1917. About two months of that time was spent in investigating agriculture tractors, and although X do not consider that I found the ‘last word' to bo said about tins subject, I formed certain opinions, which 1 am very pleased indeed to have an opportunity of conveying to you. In the United States at present, to overcome the shortage of labour and increase production, all eyes are turned to the internal combustion engine. Practically the whole of the energies of the agricultural engineers in the United States have been for some considerable time past directed to farm tractors, and any improvement found in farm machinery' in the United States to-day is connected with this machine. Modifications, additions, alterations to existing machines, were to be found on all sides, principally with the object of making them suitable for mechanical motive power." THE SMALL FARM TRACTOR. After dealing with mechanical tractors for ploughing, drilling, and diso harrowing, Mr Hall said "The / outstanding feature, both in Canada and the United States at present, is undoubtedly tno small farm tractor. In April, 1917. there were about 200 firms in the United States making them. They are made in all shapes and sizes, and it is quite a proposition for anyone, be he a practical farmer, or mechanic, to Investigate these, pick one out, and then feel satisfied that he has picked the best. If the machine was required for one purpose only, say ploughing or general cultivation, the job would be comparatively easy, for the reason that all tractors have been designed to displace horses in the cultivation of the soil, and in the case of an individual farmer ho naturally would choose one that he thought suited his' own particular conditions, .but to pick out one and say "hero is a machine suited to all conditions" is a bird of a different colour. A SUITABLE MACHINE. "I consider the best all-round machine is one with four road wheels mounted on springs, or with interchangeable rubber tyred road wheels, all gears enclosed, and running in a bath of oil, the tractor to weigh between 30 and 50 cwt; with a draw bar pull at ploughing speed of 2000 to SOOOlbs, and with a road speed of six to eight miles per hour. Such a tractor sold at a reasonable price will. I om sure, make its appearance on the Now Zealand market before we are very much older. The advent of such a machine would make it possible to put more land under crop with less labour, or to cultivate smaller areas to better advantage, and so ensure a larger return per acre. "With horses, oats, and light fuel oil, at present prices, it may be possible to cultivate the soil cheaper with horses than with a traotor, but under our present conditions is it not a question of getting the work done, and not altogether a question of cost? (1 heard of one tractor owner who started discing with his tractor at 4 a.m., his man relieved him at 8 a.m.; and the change 'was made with, out stopping the tractor ; the owner took the outfit again at,. 12 to allow his man off for lunoh, who later relieved the Owner at 1 p.in., and owner took the man's place again at 5 p.m. and worked on until it was too dark to see the track.) I think you will agree with me that this is the case, but even under present conditions I feel sure it will not be long before tractors will be fitted with improved types of internal combustion engines that will use ordinary fuel or even crude oil, that can be bought in New Zealand to-day at about 8d to 9d per gallon. These engines are past their experimental stage, and are being made in the United States to-day.

"It is not necessary to bavo skilled mechanics to operate tractors. You see to-day hundreds of youths and girls driving motor-cars, and it *is much simpler to operate a tractor. It is not so laborious as driving or looking after a team. At a recent .tractor demonstration held in Los Angeles a ‘movie star’ was operating one of the demonstrating machines, a thing she had often done «m her own ranch. H necessary, tractors can bo worked for 24 hours per day. It is only a question of providing the operators. The tractors provide their own light, and daring my visit to the United States it was no uncommon sight to see a tractor ohug-ohugginfe away through the still hours of the night.

"The tractor has come to stay, and in the same way that the milking machine opened up the dairying industry to hun dreds of people who otherwise would not on any consideration have taken to milking cows, so will the tractor make it possible for New Zealand farmers to grow more wheat, oats, and root crops. The tractor will also be a factor in bringing into cultivation the swamp and titreo lands of the North Island. They will, and are, helping us to win the war, they will do more than any other one thing to make Great Britain self-sup-porting. They will make farm life more attractive to the mechanically inclined city or country youth, and New Zealand farmers will bo helpTbg themselves and the nation by assisting and encouraging the farm implement dealers of New Zealand to establish the farm tractor in 'this the most favoured spot in the British Empire.”