• A NEW GARDEN TRACTOR.
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A Machine Designed for Drawing a Single Plough and for Cultivating Between the Rows of Growing Crops.
IN THE tractor world, a new develop ment which has taken place in America and which is rapidly coming to the front over there, is the garden tractor. The nearest approach we have to this type of machine an this side is the Weeks, but the American garden tractors are smaller than this machine. Already, there are 11 firms making them, and a collective output of 35,000 machiries is estimated for this year. The types in use are all of a generic character, consisting in the main of a power-driven pair of wheels, controlled by an operator who walks behind, handling the machine very much in the same way as a plough is handled, by a very similar stYle of handling arrangement. Broadly speaking, these garden tractors may be divided into two classes : (1) The small cultivating machines, which apply .motive power to the small hand cultivators, some of which latter are in use over here, and which are in very extensive use in the States; these pull small harm-xis, scarifiers, and cultivating blades ; and (2) the larger machines, which have sufficient. power in them to pull a. single plough; in other words, to do the work of a single horse. These latter will, of course, not enl,y pull a plough, but any other implement which a single horse is capable of dealing with By means of a belt pulley, they combine the usefulness of a small portable engine and possess an advantage over the usual .type of farm portable in the fact that they are moved about by their own power.
Of this larger class of machine, the power, varies from a slifficiency to pull an 8-in, plough to a sufficiency to pull, in one case, an 11-in. plough. The originator of the garden tractor type-of machine in the States was the Beeman, which has now been on the market about six years and has already been on the English market now for some little while. One of the newest outfits to be intro
dueed, of which we are able to give illustrations, is the New Britain tractor, made in Connecticut.
This machine is made in tWo models, which differ only in the type of wheel employed, the engine and control equipment being the same with each. The power pliant consists of a two-cylinder vertical four-cycle water-cooled motor, 2i ilns, by 4 ins., cast.: en bloc and finished with air cleaner, cellular type hi radiator, with usual air circulating fan,. natural, water circulation being depended on. Magneto ignition .and Kingston carburettor are employed, the engine using zoetralias fuel. One speed forward only is provided, and the transmission from engine to wheels is on the planetary system. The speed. of the machine is controlled by throttle from 1 to 3 m.p.h. Case-hardened chrome-nickel steel gears are employed, and the engine and transmission are mounted over, a 1i in. section aide. Rearwards, the machine is supported by a pail of castor wheels 3-in, face, which track with thenarivers, and the machine is controlled by a pair of plough handles furnished with thruttle lever and connections to the engine.
The only difference between the two models is in the size and arrangement of the driving wheels. In the smaller, or No. 1, machine, 'the driving wheels are 26 ins, diameter, with 3i-in. face, apd are arranged as close to the sides of ghe motor box as possible, resulting in a machine the total width of which is 19 ins, only. .This model is especially intended for working between rows. The clearance at the lowest point is 7 inn and fthe total height of the maoldno 38 ins.
In the No. 2 machine, the wheelsare 32 ins, in diameter, with 4-in, face, and are adjustableC ham 28 ins. to 33 ins. apart. 'so that they can be adjusted for straddling rows of different widths. This machine gives .a clearance at the lowest point of 10 ins, and a total height of 38 ins, ,,,Su that it will be seen that either of the models can be used in orchards for cultivating right up to the roots of the trees without interfering with the overhanging branches, • even where the latter are low. Anywhere a man can go-the tractor emi go.
The net weight ot the two -models is 650 lb. and 700 lb. ilspectively,.aed the drawbar pull claim for each is 400 lb., or equivalent, on the usual American tractor rating, -to 2 h.o. at the drawbar, a 9--in. Oliver plough acing recommended. A special design of plough with suit:able hitch has beendevised, together with a number of special implement 'attachments, these comprising, in addition to the plough, a cutaway disc harrow, an Acme harrow, soil packers, -cultivator and scarifiers., and a five-row seed drill, whilst a small trailer, or truck attachment, is also furnished, so that the machine can be used as a horse, the operator sitting on the trailer, for taking produce about the farm. A lawn mower
• attachment is also furnished.
For other than this work, the machine is equipped with a belt pulley 5& diameter by 41. ins. face. This is mounted on the front of the machine, and, as the
engine delivers about 6 lip, at the belt pulley, it will operate all the smaller farm machinery which it is not economical to drive from the be't pulley of a large tractor. There is quite sufficient power given by it to work most of the machinery usually used about a farm, and it is not surprising that the allround usefulness of machines of this c'ass is being appreciated, as is shown by the demand amongst so practical a people as the farmers of the United States.
Tho illustrations show two types of machine in different classes of work. The spuds on the wheels can be mounted on separate rings which go on over the regular rims, the rings being removed bodily by the removal of six nuts, thus enabling the machine to be used, speedily and without difficulty, on the road. The price of the larger model, at current rate of exchange and allowing for transportation cost, would work out in the neighlaourhood of 2150, and the different special implements to work with it at about 212 each, but we understand that the home demand is too great to allow of export. for some months to come