MOTOR TRACTION ON THE FARM.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 4, 15 April 1913, Page 378

MOTOR TRACTION ON THE FARM.

THE “AGRIMOTOR.”

E. Clifton.

The farm is already .supplied with a reliable power-producer in the fixed or portable internal-combustion or oil engine now installed on numerous farms. It is of all dimensions, from the small requirements of the cream-separator or the shearing-machine to those of the chaffcutter and threshing-machine. The internal-combustion engine stands high in the appreciation of the farmer. It is in readiness for work at a few moments’ preparation, and the modern types are simple and reliable. Manufacturers now offer an “ agrimotor,” or farm tractor, of all dimensions, of all ranges of horse-power, and for all purposes, from the implement of 50 horse-power and 15 tons weight for the farmer on the prairie of Canada, or the ranchowner of the plains of Argentina, or the contractor conveying wool over hundreds of miles in Australia, to the pigmy capacity required in the garden. There are many purposes to which the motor tractor can be applied on the farm. These are almost too numerous to mention ; among them are, however, the chaffcutter, the threshing-machine, the corncrusher, the pump, the saw-bench, the ■shearing-machine, and, not to be forgotten, the plough, as well as the general implements of tillage and. harvest. With this, the first words almost certain to be uttered are, The farm tractor cannot take the place of the horse.” “Where is the sowing ?.” “Horses have still to be kept.” It is probable, even certain, that this tractor will not do away with any horse. Indeed, it is trusted that it will not. It is. however, believed that the application of mechanical power will materially increase the production of the farm and improve its condition. There are certain times on the farm when the horse-power that is generally kept is unable to keep up with the work, as at and immediately after harvest, when stubble should be ploughed and the horses are all employed carting ; also when the land is to be ploughed and cultivated for cropping in a catchy season. It is at all these -times that the reserve power of the tractor becomes of all importance ; and, remember, it is not demanding feeding and attention when not working. It is not to be assumed or believed that this implement is to be used only on relief-works. This

may be an immediate purpose. There is, however, the assurance that the manufacturers of the world are keenly watching the requirements of the farm, and are alert to the adaptation of the machine to meet those needs, and this with . the' utmost economy and reliable efficiency. ; -

The. farmer who is ■ fortunate to own or who can obtain the services of a power outfit to plough or cultivate when occasion demands has an advantage over those who are not so provided. He can work the soil to whatever depth its nature permits. He can quickly overtake work. It is probable this last consideration is of the greater importance. This particularly applies where rain in certain places suspends operations for weeks. This naturally causes a pressure of work to be ' overcome in a curtailed season. It is an incalculable advantage to have the implements and the power at hand to utilize to the uttermost every opportunity afforded by the weather. This is so far as assisting or relieving. There is the factor of deep cultivation stirring, not deep ploughing— consider. This is usually accepted as desirable, but set . aside as costly and practically impossible to accomplish with horsepower. It is actually both costly and difficult. It came to the writer to subsoil for orchard planting 250 acres to about 16 in. in depth. There were good teams and careful men, but half an acre per day with four horses about represented the average of the day’s work. The work of cultivating a few acres to this depth is not a serious undertaking. It is when the acres are many that the labour is appreciated, and this is the task of power from steam or petrol. A particular instance of the value of deep tillage' has been afforded recently in Great Britain. Some 3,000 acres of sugar-beet have been grown in the eastern counties. These are spread over, a wide area. The crops vary in size from a few acres up to 100 acres. The cultivation is as varied as the acreages of the fields. Some are horse ploughed and cultivated, others deeply stirred with steam-power implements. It is claimed that the crops on the former were disappointing, while on the latter, power-tilled, they were both superior and heavier in yield. Such differences are mentioned as 5 tons and 17 tons, as the preparation of the soil was shallow or deep. The sugar-beet is no doubt a plant that requires . a deep, well-prepared soil, and there . are other crops that appreciate and respond to' deep tillage. This can be provided by the agrimotor. In this it is not to be understood that deep tillage is recommended on all soils , and in all conditions. It is, indeed, not so. Deep tillage can be profitable only on fertile . and well-drained soils. These respond while similar cultivation on poor, wet soil-is simply the dissipation of both energy- and money..

The present oil-tractors for the farm may be separated, into two groups. Those of large dimensions and of high power are suitable for

contractors and large properties, while those of . the other group are specially adapted to the average farm and even to the orchard and garden.

Of the-large type, there is built in England, engined by Messrs. Hornsby and constructed by W. Foster and Co., for export to South America, an internal - combustion petrol engine or agrimotor of 55 b.h.p., in. weight 14 tons. It is two-cylindered, and the mechanism is of the simplest design. The wearing-parts are massive. The drivingwheels are 8 ft. in diameter. There is embodied in it a remarkable

device for starting. This implement has successfully undergone trial. It is declared extremely suitable for the special conditions for which it is intendedthat of cultivation on extensive level country.

In New Zealand there are now in operation several agricultural tractors, manufactured by the International Harvester Company, U.S.A. The 20 b.h.p. is a single cylinder engine. It is started with petrol and worked with kerosene. . In weight it is about 5 tons 10 cwt. It is carried on wheels of which the tire is 20 in. wide. The Department of Agriculture is operating one of the implements. With it a plough of five furrows was successfully used on land that was particularly hard. The plough is arranged on a frame bringing one mould-board

close to the tractor, .so enabling turning to be accomplished on a headland of reasonable width. In Canterbury, ■ Southland, Auckland, and other districts the owners of these tractors are particularly well pleased with them. The importers are in receipt of many gratifying testimonials. The purchasers are farmers and contractors who thresh and chaff by agreement and who undertake ploughing for farmers. The somewhat smaller type, yet not the smallest, is • one lately imported into Canterbury.' The manufacturers of this machine, “ The Universal,” are Messrs. Saunderson and Giftkins, Bedford, England. It is of four cylinders, is water-cooled, is started on petrol, and is worked with kerosene. The wheels are in height 5 ft., the tires being 18 in. wide, and the weight 4| tons. It operated with ease a four-furrow

plough to the entire - approval of the farmers who were present at the recent demonstration at Lincoln.

The agrimotor that more directly appeals to the smaller farmer, to the orchardist, and even to the gardener is one lately placed on the market by Messrs. Wyles, of Evesham, England. It is available for the field, the orchard, and the garden. It is claimed that this implement is of the type that, when one sees it, the natural exclamation is, “ Why has not this been thought of before ? ” The inventor is an engineer who is interested in farm pursuits. This agrimotor is the outcome of the combination of the trained > skill of the engineer and the practical knowledge of the wants of the small farm. It is described as

a self-contained motor-plough. the • cost being £75. The 1 ' petrol engine is 0f,4 l>.h,p., it is water-CQoled, magneto ignition. . The weight of the whole single-furrow implement is 6 cwt. It is driven through, a. metal cone dutch, with chain and spur-wheels to the driving-wheels proper. The engine is so governed that the attendant has to operate only the clutch, the adjustment of the driving-wheel regulating the depth. The designer has ingeniously provided for the necessary adjustment of the two driving-wheels independently of each other. The frame is constructed to admit of the direct attachment of implements for harrowing, drilling, hoeing, &c. At a public demonstration in England the 4-horse-power motorplough cut a furrow of 6 in. It travelled at a speed of over three miles per hour. ■ The first furrow was opened with the wheels level. The steering was simple. The plough was quickly turned on the narrowest of headlands. The furrow-wheel was . readily adjusted, and the implement started on its return. When the land was opened out the implement was permitted to proceed unattended. The adjustment and balance were so complete . that a straight and even course was maintained to the end of the furrow. Inequalities of the surface and differences in the texture of the soil were easily overcome. It was estimated that in ordinary ploughing and with reasonable conditions of soil this implement consumed 2 gallons of petrol per acre. This particular demonstration was performed under unfavourable weatherconditions, the soil being in a sodden state. It was, however, completed to the eminent satisfaction of the interested observers. The same makers exhibited a still smaller implement for use in root crops, or orchards, or gardens. This is hand-guided, the drivingwheels being adjustable laterally. It operates as a cultivator or hoe through trees or rows of plants where horses are inadmissible and where manual work, would be both tedious and costly. The small agrimotors should rapidly secure favourable attention. The cost is within the capacity of even small orchardists or marketgardeners. With these, used in the orchard and . the market garden, the horse can be entirely displaced. The weight is light. They are easily operated. ' They can even work on land that the horse could not traverse, and they are reliable. This implement can be equipped with a belt-pulley. With this other machinery can be used, and the farmer can thus be provided with an agrimotor and a stationary poweroutfit. . The agricultural land of New Zealand has reached a high price. Increased production is necessary to maintain our prosperity. Our farmers must avail themselves of the most modern appliances of cultivation, and of these the most valuable may be the agrimotor.