Motors and Tractors for Market Gardeners.
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In concluding the section to which we devoted 11 pages in our last number, it will be of interest to our readers to have a short account of an all-night vigil kept by one of our representatives at Covent Garden Market last week. Many of the motors to which references are made were illustrated by us in the special issue of August 3 ist C,ovent Garden Market is a cheerless spot except on such nights as there is an opera performance at the Theatre Royal. On these occasions it is used by the police as a standing and mustering place for carriages and cabs. At about 11.30 p.m. the first arrivals of market produce for the next day's.rnarket are heard approaching. It is generally an even chance as to whether the first load in will be horse-drawn or tractor-hauled. At all events, one of Mr. Lobjoit's tractors with a trailer load of five to seven tons generally arrives about that time. On the night in question the first arrival was No. 2 Wellington tractor, which entered the market at 11.35. Close behind this appeared a traction engine be lc:nging to Mr. A. W. Smith, of Feitharn, drawing two specially-constructed trailers. This traction engine arrived at 11.45. Almost immediately on its heels, if such an expression may be allowed where a traction engine is concerned, appeared Mr. Lobjoit's second Wellington tractor, marked No. i, and its time at the market was 11.50. The west side of the market now assumed a very busy aspect. Horse-drawn loads were arriving, while two of Mr. Lobjoit's trailers were being unloaded and one of Mr. Smith's. Mr. Smith works on the system of leaving one trailer at the market to be unloaded during the course of the day, and, therefore, the one that had been left on the previous night was already loaded with empties for the return journey. The traction engine accordingly had only to wait until one of its trailers was unloaded and loaded with empties, the second one being left to be unloaded during the course of the market. Mr. Lobjoit, in the same way, had one trailer waiting, loaded with empties, so that the first of the tractors was able to get away pretty sharply, as one trailer is all it might take. This went round to one of the mews off Baker Street to fetch a load of manure, but the second one had to wait until the first trailer was unloaded and loaded again with empties. At 12.5 there entered James Street, from Long Acre, the three Wallis tractors belonging to Messrs. Wild and Robbins, of Houns low. These generally run close together, and are all made by Wallis and Steevens, Ltd. One of them is the latest type, with enclosed engine and extra large tanks. These tractors all shunt their traileis upon what is technically known as the "stand," and then retire. There is one trailer of empties waiting, so that one of the tractors at once returns to Hounslow with it behind. The other two retire into a side street and do not go back until about to o'clock the next morning. At 12.r5' Mr. Lobjoit's third ttactor—a Wallis—arrived and had also to wait while its trailer was unloaded. Very little behind this appeared a Coulthard motor lorry, painted white, belonging to Messrs.
Baker Brothers, which entered the market at 12.25. This brings a trailer behind it and has to wait for both lorry
and trailer to be unloaded and stacked with empties. Punc tually at i o'clock, Messrs. Mann and Sons' Straker lorry arrived from Twickenhain. This also is painted white and looks very well. It has been on this service for a long time now and is giving the owners complete satisfaction. It had to un couple from its trailer and hack into its unloading berth. After it was un loaded, it had to work its way out through the then crowded market, and its trailer had to be pushed in by hand and similarly unloaded. It was certainly nearly 5 a.m. before it was able to leave. Between r and r.r5 a Wallis tractor, belonging to Mr. J. Rochford, of Broxbourne, came into the other side of the market, bringing a heavy box trailer laden with choice cut flowers, etc. Although our repre_ sentative remained at the market until 5 o'clock, the only further arrival to chronicle was Mr. S. W. Luxford's two-ton Dennis van, which came in loaded with fruit.
It was extremely interesting to notice the ease with which lorries and tractors were manceuvred amongst the horses. By 4 o'clock Covent Carden was packed so tightly that the clearances between vehicles were re&iced, in many cases, to a fraction of an inch, and as horses were being taken out of wagons other wagons
were being backed into place. Barrows were working about in all directions, but the use of motor vehicles was obviously a factor which considerably reduced the amount or confusion. When it is considered that each of the tractors was bringing a loan that would have required two three-horse teams, and that each of the motor lorries was bringing, with its 'railer, what would have required three three-horse teams, it can be realised that the space they occupied in the crowded market was very much less than would have been the case had horses been employed. In no case did the horses seem to mind their proximity to the steam tractors. Our representative noticed one cheerfully chewing a piece of coal in the tractor bunker, and another one endeavouring to ascertain, by sense of smell, whether the wick trimmings for the big end lubrication were edible. We are afraid, had he carried the investigation further, he would have found the wire which stiffens the wick trimmings rather uncomfortable in his inside! When it is remembered that the it vehicles, whose arrival has been chronicled above, were all in use before the Heavy Motorcar Order can be said to have made its usefulness apparent, it is clear that we shall see a much larger number in the near future. Two Foden lorries were not due that mg; also., there will be two more internal combustion motors running to Covent Garden before the end of September. morn Thus it is clear that about zo motors now help to serve Covent Garden, the greatest of our metropolitan markets. There are also very important markets, such as Spitalfields and the Boro'. To both of these other
motor vehicles maintain a daily service.
An analysis of the particulars given above shows that nearly all the loads drawn by motor are coming from places West of Brentford, and, though there are many market gardens in that direction, it is well known that a big proportion of London's fruit and vegetable supplies come through Essex and Kent. It is probable that these use the other two markets, as they are nearer to the avenues by which they enter London. There is also a by no means unimportant market at Brentford, to which Messrs. A. W. Smith, Wild and Robbins, and W. J. Lobjoit, frequently despatch motor loads.
In relation to the services at Braridshy and Tollerton, Mr. J. Nugent Harris, sec. retary to the Agricultural Organisation Society, Dacre House, Dacre Street, Westminster, London, S.W., writes :— " With reference to the special number of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR for market gardeners and fruit growers, it may interest you to know that the Brandsbv motor
service is going ahead strongly. It is found necessary to double and quadruple. the service, which is in an agricultural district purely. The Teme Valley service has only just been put into actual working, and already it cannot cope with the traffic offered to it, in its first month of existence. But these do not directly hear upon garden and fruit matters, although it is obvious that any method whereby perishable produce can be got to market more expeditiously is bound to succeed when fully developed as to supply a ready means of transit to suit the growers."
On the same subject, Mr. C. E. Boddington, of the Tome Valley Agricultural Organisation Association, Ltd., advises us that the amount of freight offering for conveyance by the G.W. Railway Co.'s Yorkshire wagon largely exceeds their estimates. Thus have our reports borne testimony to the wide use of motors for cultivation of the land, direct conveyance to market, and the feeding of main-line stations.
In all three branches we have been able to point to satisfied users, many of whom have shown a further interest in our work by coming forward with personal testimony. It is true that there have been troubles, but motors will now work at a profit, and to delay longer is to lose money in transport charges.