Motors for Market Gardeners.
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The use of motors in connection with agricultural pursuits appears to be extending. It already embraces tractor haulage for ploughs and other farm implements, of which we may quote the Ivel and Scott machines, motor wagon conveyance of produce to railways, e.g., the Brancisby and Teme Valley services, and an increasing number oi cases where farmers and growers use mechanical vehicles to take their output to market direct. One of the pioneers in connection with the conveyance of supplies to Covent Garden Market is Mr. W. G. Lobjoit, of the firm of W. J. Lobjoit and Son, growers and agricultural agents, Heston Farm, near Hounslow, with branches at Osterley and other places. Mr. W. G. Lobjoit is an esteemed member of the Committee of the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association, and a brief account of his experiences—furnished exclusively to " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR "—should be of interest to many. We recently took the opportunity to have a chat with Mr. W. G. Lobjoit in this connection, during which we collected a few interesting facts. " in the August of leaf," began Mr. Lobjoit, " we determined to see if it was commercially possible to use motor traction for hauling goods to the markets. We made a tour of all the motor manufacturers who at that time were selling heavy motor vehicles and saw much that appeared to us to be ingenious and clever, but not, in our opinion, suited for market garden haulage. After carefully studying the question in the light of the position our tour had disclosed, we decided that tractors would better Meet our requirements than self-contained motor lorries. Our reasons for coming to this decis:on were —(1) our existing wagons were easily adapted for haulage; (2) it was more convenient to leave the wagon in the market than to take up the limited space there with an engine ; (3) the larger diameter of driving wheel on the tractor was more fitted for haulage on the occupation roads of the farms. We accordingly purchased two of Wallis and Steevens' light tractors, one of which was delivered in February, 1e02, and the other in October, 1903. Various modifications and additions to this company's original design were suggested by us, and were embodied in the tractors we ordered. This was also the case with our friends Messrs. Wild and Robbins, of Sipson, who had made the tour with us, and who bought three of the tractors. Our first difficulty arose over the water question, and this was solved by taking a galvanised iron tank holding 18o gallons in the head of each wagon. We found this decidedly better than attempting to get water on the road." We here questioned Mr. Lobjoit as to whether the constitution of the Metropolitan Water Board had not resulted in a greater facility over water supplies, especially as this body will license anybody to supply water to mob: Wagons for a small annual payment provided the water is
taken through a meter. To our surprise he replied that nobody seemed to have taken up this question along the road between Hounslow and London, but we pointed out that it had been found possible satisfactorily to arrange water stations on other routes.
" Two tractors," continued Mr. Lobjoit, " soon enabled us to dispose of eight horses, although we had considerable difficulties during the early days and several midnight excursions to breakdowns. But our men quickly got accustomed to the work, and things began to work smoothly, a state of affairs which has been maintained by constant attention to small repairs and regular. overhauling. At the same time, the cost of repairs has come to more than we were led to expect, although the newer engines are unquestionably better in this respect. We spent a good deal of money and time experimenting in ploughing with the tractor by means of a wire rope upon a drum, operated by a chain from a wheel on the end of the crank shaft, but we did not pursue work in this direction. Last summer, needing an extension of our motor plant, we determined if possible to get rid of the necessity for carrying water upon the trailing wagons, where we wanted the room for our useful load. As soon as the Local Government Board regulations were published, and we knew what was permissible, we Purchased a compound tractor from Messrs. William Foster and Co., Ltd., of Lincoln, this being of a modified design to meet our requirements. This engine has extra side tanks carrying 16o gallons of water, in addition to 8o gallons in the rear tank. It has been at work since the end of March last and has given every satisfaction, while the water carried is sufficient for a journey of 25 to 30 miles."
Discussing with Mr. Lobjoit the question of the economy he had been able to achieve, he remarked that it was very difficult to put it into figures, although he had not the least hesitation in saying that they would be sorry to have to go back to horse haulage for taking their goods to market. They had found the work excessively trying for horses and for the men, it requiring them to be out all night in all weathers. The roads were often in A terrible condition, and standing about at the market after getting heated, in wet and cold weather, resulted in the wearing out of the hardiest horse in a few years. Lameness and colds were almost constant in their stables, and they found that the tractors could perform double their ordinary duty at busy times. In conclusion, Mr. Lobjoit said—" There is no denying the fact that tractors which are capable of ploughing on the farm, as well as hauling on the road, would be of even greater service to market gardeners, because sometimes one has little to go to market, but is busy on the land, while the tractors are idle in their shed laughing at you !"