Opinions from Others.
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Agricultural Tractors for Natal.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,189] Sir,—In an extract in " The Leader " front your paper, I read an article on traction motors for use in Satal for agricultural purposes. I should feel obliged it you would put me in contact with makers of motors suitable for agricultural work. I have particulars of the---. Here, probably, paraffin would be more economical than petrol. Any information you can give me will be highly acceptable, as I am considering whether it would nut be advantageous to substitute a motor for ox-traction; it would mean economy of time, and, when food is scarce in winter, diminish the risk of loss through the death of
working oxen.—Yours faithfully, J Potchefstroom.
[We are asking makers to forward catalogues.—ED.]
Horses or Motors for Ploughing.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,1901 Sir,—I note you are making reference in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR to the subject of agricultural motors, and I thought that you would not mind me sending you a few facts which bear out your contentions.
We have had the steam ploughing tackle at our place this week—two enormous engines, a six-furrow plough, and two water carts. As I stood_ watching them at work, I could not help thinking and comparing them with the oil motor that I saw at work a little while ago. -Steam ploughing works out for a 10-acre field as follows :—
Now, you see, Sir, this is 13s. per acre, and where can a farmer employ such means when it works out at more than he can do it with horses? Besides, this 13s. is a low estimate, as it was easy ground to plough, and so did not want so much coal or water,, which the farmer has to find. All about here, they " plough " with two horses, costing with the man 12s. 6d per day for one acre, and when you come to compare these two prices with an agricultural oil motor, which would bring the price down to about 5s. per acre, it does not require much thought to see what an opening there is for a line of business that as yet seems to get no farther than the experimental stage. Why don't our large mannfacturers take it up?
We threshed oats, a week ago, which ought to be worth 17s. per quarter, and we are altered 14s. 6d, simply because tireSouth-African and the Russian farmer can send them in at that. Why is it P Because he does not have to pay so much for his ground, and the English manufacturer is sending him out enormous agricultural motors to do his. work cheaply, while the British farmer is left with the olofashioned horse, which cannot get over the work, and when not at work stands eating its head off. Just now, it is harvest time; in any field you can see three horses on. a self-binder, and they have to be changed every half day, that is six horses a day, whereas a properly-adjusted and kept-up-to-time agricaltural motor would keep on all day, would •do the work of 12 horses, and would not, want to eat all night.
If the trade of farming is to be made better in England, this state of affairs must be altered, and the properlymade agricultural motor is the thing to alter it, so I ask you, Sir, not to stop but to keep on " drummin' it in " until you see it altered. You have kept on in other branches, until you have got these big commercial fleets running on the road, doing away with horses, and bringing their owners in good money and good orders every day, and I ask you to try and. do the same for us who work 1)11 England's biggest asset—the land. You should not be satisfied until every farmer of from 300 acres and upwards_ has at his disposal a trustworthy machine and one that, properly looked niter, will displace 1042 horses every day, which is always ready, as your farmer friend says this week, by turning a handle I I am sure that if one maker will only start in the proper manner and give his customers that warranty which it is only reasonable to expect, others will follow : improvement after improvement will come, and we shall have what we want. My governor farms nearly 600 acres, and the main methods are just as old-fashioned as they were hundreds of years ago. He is known all over England, and I know his money is ready for the maker who brings him a proper machine and gives a. proper warranty with it..
I could go on writing enough to fill a book about the uses of an agricultural motor on a farm of our size, and what a business for hire, eh P They will knock all the old steam ploughs out of time, and they don't want. a 40-acre field to turn in. But I suppose I must stop, or I shall overstep the mark. Still, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR is our mouthpiece. I merely want to help you by myself doing a little towards getting better conditions. Why don't the people combine with a big firm with 60 years' character behind it P—Yours faithfully,
"Si. ALBANS."