TRACTORS V. HORSES ON A FARM AT GLENNAVY, SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 9

TRACTORS V. HORSES ON A FARM AT GLENNAVY, SOUTH CANTERBURY.

o hiie it cannot be claimed that every farmer would find the use of a tractor a paying* proposition, there seems to be no doubt that there is a large number in Otago and Southland who would find it both profitable and convenient to adopt this form of haulage. 'lbis has been the experience of Mr it. F. llenstridge. an enterprising farmer at Glenavy, just across the Waitaki, who wrote on the 13th October, 1921 : “I have just completed a section of ploughing with the 10-18 Case Tractor and 2-bottom Grand Detour Plough fitted with 14 in general purpose bottoms. I am taking this opportunity of furnishing you with some particulars of the work. "Jhe arm ploughed was 31 acres. A verage depth of ploughing was 6 inches, file land was lea. fairly stony, but in good pu ugnmg condition. Time occupied in ploughing was 48 hours, and material used was as follows; Kerosene, 50 gallons; benzine, u gallons; engine oil, 2 gallons; water for radiator. H gallons. Tho ploughing was all done on high gear without ‘>-'uble tn the tractor. Both tractor and plough worked excellently throughout, and gave me no trouble whatever. The work accomplished was not only pleasing to me, but visiting neighbours’ expressed themselves as thoroughly satisfied. I have also, as a trial, hitched the tractor to a I’, and D. Duncan 9-tine “Giant” Cultivator, arid cultivated to u depth of 9 inches on low gear, and to a depth of 6 inches °n high gear. The tractor also pulled a P. and D. Duncan 12 x 8 S’ • 1 Tripod Harrow on high gear with ease. Tho ploughing and top working of the land was _ accomplished with Extension ritna lined with inverted angle iron grouters. "Ihe satisfactory wo'- that the tractor hap done has proved its value as a factor in agriculture, and criticisms, coupled with many doubts and fears that were expressed regarding its reliability, are i:o longer here, ihe tractor itself has silenced them all. Any farmer whose land is moderately level need have no hesitation in discarding horses and replacing thorn with a tractor to do the work on the farm.” Such was Mr Henstridge’s experience in p’-u'i-hiprr His experience -'of cultivating with a tractor has boon equally gratifying, u lea land Icing completed in 33 hours. Harvesting’ is perhaps nie most important operation on any farm, and this is what Mr tienstridge has to say about the use of a tractor in this undertaking. His letter is dated 30th March, 1922: “i am sending you some particulars of harvesting work done by 10-18 Case Tractor. I first of all li defied it to a Massey -Harris binder, 6ft

cut, and reaped a heavy crop of wheat, 40 acres in all, using Co3lb of binder twice. “A lot of farmers said they thought thctractor would not be able to do the job, as she was rather slow. At all events she came through without any trouble whatever ; the only places I had to stop were whore the wheat was very tangly, and the binder got blocked. “As showing her ability to cut a heavy crop, I may state that in lO.j, lioui'S actual cutting time, one day, I used 1101 b of binder twine, which I think you will find hard to beat. I also find that she ran the seme 10 2 hours on eight gallons of kerosene, and I also consider that, the tractor would easily enough pull two binders in a medium crop on high gear, the same as 1 did in tha heavy crop with one binder. “The next job that I tackled was carting the wheat to the railway, as I stook threshed and had to use four one-horse drays. I put on sixty sacks of wheat per load, and the tractor pulled it quite easily, it not being enough to keep her hot enough for kerosene. The only thing I consider you really require for road work is rubber tyres for all wheels, as the flat bars do not give enough grip when pulling up a fairly good incline. I believe the tractor could pull 80 sacks quite easily if so fitted with rubber tyres.” Two of the photos of harvesting work done on Air Hensridge’s farm will he found on our illustrated pages in this issue.