Official Report on the Stirling Trials.
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No Competitive Data Available. The Trials "Served a Useful Purpose." "A Matter for Regret that British Makers Were Not More Adequately Represented."
We have been favoured by the Secretary of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland with its official report concerning the "Exhibition of Motor Tillage Implements" which took .place at iaing's Park Farm, Stialing, last month. We published...our own illustrated report., compiled by our representative who attended the Trials, in cur issue fur the 14th of October.
The official report. itself is an interesting one, at though it adds practically nothing to the information which we were enabled to present ourselves. Owing to the inconclusive results attained on account of machines failing to arrive, others arriving late and to the difficulty of procuring suitable plaughs for at-. taehment to the tractors, no attempt was made to secure competitive fuel-consumption data_ We may well put on record certain extracts from this report, and at the same tune we should like to compliment the committee on its public-spirited attitude in arranging these Trials, and for the carefill means which were taken to insure th.at, so far as ossible, the. tests should be carried out under satisfactory conditions ; they deserve all praise.
The Tests Designed to be Practical.
We quote the following from the official report:— " The general idea of the Committee was to provide tests for the motor implements, which would, as nearly as possible, correspond to the actual con
ditions on a farm. . . It was felt, that at the present stage of development of agriculturalmotor implements the greatest service to the farmer would be secured by allowing each machine to demonstrate in its own way the best work of which it was capable, "The following regulation was, however, laid down by the Committee :— " The depth of furrow shall be not less than S ins. and not more than 10 ins, on the light land, and not less than 0 ies. on the stiff land."
Special attention was directed to the following (a) Weight of machine, and weight per in. width of wheel.
(b) Mechanical design and construction.
(c) Quality of work. (d) Time taken and attendance required. (e) Adaptability for ploughing different widths and depths. (f) Adaptability to various kinds of work, such as cultivating, and, in the ease of tractors, harvesting, haulage, and the like. Ease and safety of handling. Ease of turning, and space and time required for same, and uniformity of furrow ends.
Facility of attachment—in the case of tractors.
Consumption of fuel and other supplies per unit of work done.
(k) Price.
Late Starters.
"Only two machines were ready to commence work at 9 o'clock on the first day—viz., the Overtime' and the Wyles. The Mogul ' tractor was on the field, but its plough had not arrived, although it started later, using another plough. The ' Sandusky ' tractor was on the field, but its plough was not. forward, and the Mann steam tractor had not reached the field. All the machines were forward and ready to start in the afternoon, although in one ease the plough did not reach Stirling until after the conclusion of the Trial," The Mogul Did Good Rough Ploughing.
The following extracts are taken from the individual reports concerning the competing machines.
1. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN-16 B.H.P. MOGUL OIL TRACTOR.
" This tractor is of simple construction, and all the working parts seem to he readily accessible for adjustments or repairs. The general design indicates strength and durability. The makers state that the engine works equally well on paraffin, gas oil, solar oil, naphtha, or petrol, without change of adjustment.; " The •road speed is about 3 m.p.h., and the normal ploughing speed is 2 m.p.h.; the tractor can he turned in a 16-ft. circle.
"The engine worked. very well, and seemed to develop its full power, though occasionally there was a somewhat violent explosion in the silencer, which appeared to indicate that some adjustment
was required. • • •
"This tractor did good rough ploughing on the earse land, using a Massey-Harris two-furrow plough of ark old type' kindly lent to the Society by Messrs. Kemp and Nicholson, Stirling.
" The tractor and plough required the attendance of two men. With a three-furrow plough the attendance would be economical. The combination appeared to be easily handled, and was turned at the ends with great rapidity, and in the space of an ordinary headland. • " On the light land, on the less steep part of the field, this tractor and plough did fair work, although it seemed to be incapable of ploughing to the stipulated depth of 8 ins, going uphill.
"This tractor drove the threshing-mill with com plete satisfaction. It also hauled a load of tons, gross, over a prescribed course of about a mile, on the public road, including a :gradient of 1 in 14. Although the pace was slow—about three miles an hour—the Performance was quite satisfactory.
"The official observers formedthe opinion that,
for all-round farm work, such as ploughing, cultivating, reaping, threshing, haulage, etc., this machine would be of great service to farmers."
Steam Tractor Did Not Show To Advantage on Light Land.
2. MANN'S PATENT STEAM TRACTOR.
" This tractor is well designed and of strong construction and depreciation of a motor of this type should be very small. It is suitable for all kinds of stationary, field and road work and is, moreover, simple to manage. It is mounted on springs, to come under the Motor Car Act.
"This tractor and plough was not forward until the afternoon of the first day. On the light land the work done did not show to advantage. On the carse land, however, on the afternoon of the second day, the work done was very satisfactory. The plough used was a four-furrow one, and the work was accomplished very rapidly and without a hitch. "This tractor drove the threshing-mill, and took a load of 13 tons gross over, the selected route without the slightest difficulty, and in a perfectly satisfactory manner.
"The observers are of opinion that, in view of its comparatively light weight for a steam tractor, and its ease -of handling and turning, tnis machine would be a, desirable implement for a large farm. There can be no question as to its reliability " The Sandusky had a "Quite Unsuitable" Plough.
3. MILLS AND SONS, LTD., "SANDUSKY" 45 B.H.P. PETROL TRACTOR.
"The plough used with this tractor was a Grand De Tour plough, taking four furrows each 14 ins. wide. The plough was controlled from the engine, an that tractor and plough were operated by one man. The width of the furrows was 'not adjustable, and the plough was found to be quite unsuited for the class of land on which the Trials took place. . . The tractor appeared to have ample power, and was well handled. With a suitable plough the observers see no reason why it should not perform good work on a large holding. "For the threshing this tractor took upsits position very smartly and performed the work with complete satisfaction. On the Road it hauled a gross load of six tons with ease, its rate of travelling being considerably in excess of the other oil tractors.
"The observers regret to be unable to report favourably on the field work of this tractor, owing to the causes above mentioned ; but its threshing and hauling were performed in a very satisfactory manner."
Overtime's Performance Similarly Influenced.
4. OVERTIME FRAM TRACTOR CO., 'OVERTIME" 24 B.H.P. PARAFFIN TRACTOR.
"The engine worked very satisfactorily, and the exhaust was clean.
" With this inachimealso the quality of the work done was undoubtedly influenced by the fact that suitable ploughs were unobtainable. On the carse land, with a three-furrow plough, the work done was of a very moderate description. On the less steep portion of the dry field land, with a twofurrow plough, it showed to better advantage. The combination of tractor and plough did not appear to be easily handled. It required considerable attendance, and the space and time occupied in turning was more than in the case of any of the other machines "This tractor drove the threshing-mill with complete satisfaction ; and, in spite of the fact that the tyres of its driving wheels were practically plain, hauled a load of six tons over the prescribed B26 course in a quite satisfactory manner. The pace was, however, slow—scarcely three miles per heur.
The Field Work of the Wyles was the Best Shown.
5. WYLES MOTOR PLOUGHS, LTD., 11 B.H.P.
MOTOR PLOUGH.
The first of the following paragraphs is usefully worded to convey in simple language the unusual provision on this machine for the alteration of heights of the two driving wheels. "The weight of the machine is sufficient to ensure that the engine and ploughs will sink between the wheels to the lowest position when the engine is at work. The reaction of the pinion teeth on the road wheel gear is sufficient to raise the machine between the wheels. This movement is obtained without the use of any special gearing, and is controlled by adjustable stops and pawls operating in a rack, the whole being brought under the control of the driver through one lever. "This plough did excellent work both on the carse land and on the light land. It required only one attendant, and was very easy and safe to handle. It takes two furrows, and is adjustable to plough at varying widths and depths. In turning, the space occupied was not greater than that required for a pair of horses. The furrow endings were very regular. "On the light land, although it had the smallest horse-power, it was the only implement which succeeded in pulling up the hill with two furrows, on the plot originally assigned to it. The gradient in the steepest part here varied from 1 in 10 to 1 in 21.
"This Machine is not adapted for threshing or road haulage. It is, however, fitted with a pulley, and might be used for driving some of the lighter farm machinery. The ploughshares can be replaced by a cultivator, and it is understood the machine can also be adapted to haul a binder or binders. "The official observers are of the opinion that, taken all round, the field work of this machine was the best shown. They have confidence in recommending this implement to farmers as being well suited to do good work on moderate-sized farms."
None of the Tractors Ploughed on Allotted Hills.
The following notes are added at the end of tha report as bearing. on the whole competition. "As already indicated, none of the tractors (Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4) was successful in ascending the gradient on the plots originally assigned to them on the light land, and had to be removed to a. part of the field where the gradient was less severe. The presence of a liberal dressing of fresh manura on the surface doubtless added to the difficulty.
Tractors Unable to Plough Steeper than 1 in 20.
"The Official observers are of opinion that the tractors are unable to do field work on a gradient exceeding 1 in 20. "Throughout the Trial the weather conditions were excellent. No rain had fallen for a considerable time and the heavy land was in the most favourable condition. Under these circumstances the observers did not note any appreciable packing of the soil by the wheels of the tractors.
Only Two British Competitors.
"It is a matter for regret that British makers of agricultural tractors were not more adequately represented at the Trial. The reason for their absence on this occasion is obvious, their whole output being required for military purposes. "The Committee are of opinion that, under the circumstances, the Trial cannot be regarded as in
any way conclusive. . At the same time, the Committee feel that the Trial has served a useful purpose in demonstrating the possibilities of mechanical power as applied to tillage and other.farming operations, and as illustrating the variety and capacity of the implements at present available."