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THE SCOTTISH AGRIMOTOR DEMONSTRATION.

13th February 1923
Page 22
Page 22, 13th February 1923 — THE SCOTTISH AGRIMOTOR DEMONSTRATION.
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The Report of the Committee Gives, on the Whole, Praise to the Work of the Implements.

THE. HIGALAND and Agricultural Society of Scotland has, this week, published its report of the demonstration of agrimotors and implements which took pirate at Fordel, Dalkeith, Midlothiae, in

October last. The report contains a good deal of uSeful.informetion, but is unlike reports. of former trials and demonstrations, one of the greatest differences, being the absence of tables.

The .general observations of the reporting committee point teli a marked advance .agriinotor construction since the

• Society's last denienstratian ie 1917, and many suggestions contained in the report of these• trials; were given effect to at the 1922 trials. The Society 'Considers that the limit, of 40 cesq. is sufficient for any le•Oor, and this limit set by the Society wee felsoad be exclude very few agrimotore from the tests.

With regard to horse-power, and considering the work which a tractor is eequired to do on the farm, the committee are of opinion that a minimum cf 25 h.h.p. is desirable. In arriving at this decision, the committee have in view the fact that the erector must have suffiiiient power not only to draw a threefurrow plough under ordinary conditions, but also to pull a cultivator to a proper depte and taking a width at least equal to the, full overall width of the tractor. The committee's former recommendation regarding the use of spuds, rectanguar in section, and about 3 ins. to 4 ins, in-width and from 4 ins. to 5 ins. in length, is now very generally adopted. There is a marked improvement in the accessibility of the working parts, and, in, most eases, in their protection from the effects of exposure to ,weather and the entrance of grit.

Quick-release Devices.

There is no advance to record in the adoption of spring coenections and release devices between the tractor and plough. The use of a wooden peg, which shears through under .excessive strain, appears to be the most popular method of release. The use of an adjustable hitch, fitted either to the tractor or the implement, is. now widely adopted with advantage, It was noticeable that the tractor% demonstrated were provided with a variety of speeds suitable for the difB3e ferent operatiens which they are called upon to perform. Practically all the tractors were easily manipulated and turned at the headlands, a 24-ft. head land being found sufficient. Some of them could be turned in considerably less. Those tractors having a driving wheel in the furrow are more easily steered and appear to obtain a better grip. All the tractors appeared capable of being used with ally implement as a one-man outfit.

Dealing with the tractors separately, the committee have set out all the mechanical details of each make and type and have made a separate report.

The Merits of the Tractors.

• The report deals in detail with each agritnertor entered for the trial, giving praise where it is deserved, and not stinting adverse criticism if it be due. Exigencies of space do not permit us teesgo into these matters in detail, but it is interesting to record that in dealing with the latest model rotary cultivator the committee have arrived at the opinion that, for autumn cultivation in Scotland, this• implement cannot take the place of the plough. As an implement for spring cultivation, however, the committee consider this machine to be peculiarly well adapted, and they regard it as a distinct advance on former efforts in the same direction, as it is capable of performing, in one operation, work which was formerly done at several operations with the use of several implements. The encouragement of the production of such an appliance was one of the main objects which the Society had in view in holding the demonstration.

The committee make the following general observations on implements for agrimotor work : With regard to ploughs, a distinct advance since the laat•trial has also to be noted. Much good work was performed, All ploughs are now fitted with a self-lift arrangement. Many of them are also provided with a;n efficient means for adjustment to different widths

and depths. In view of the varying conditions of soil inScotland and, the variety of work to be undertaken, • a pleugh that is not adjustable must be regarded as being unsuitable. There is still room for improvement in this respect, not only in providing. means' for adjustment, but in the ease and rapidite with which adjustment may be effected. In this connection it may be noted that a tractor plough, taking two or three furrows, requires more adjustment than a 'horse -plough.

The ploughs were mostly fitted with revolving discs and skins couitsrs. It was noticeable, however, that not one of these was capable of effectively paring the turf from the edge of the furrow slice and laying it in the furrow bottom in such a way as not to interfere with the proper packing ief the ploughing. In most cases the skimmed portion was merely folded over, and left in such a position that the furrows could not be compactly put together.

The committee were impressed with the work done by the ploughs with subsoil attachments, and consider that this is a type of impleinent which farmers might adopt more extensively with advantage, especially where land has been continuously ploughed for a long period with plain-bottomed ploughs. This method of subsoiling, where the subsoil is broken up but left in position; can have no disadvantage, and should be highly beneficial in improving the drainage Etna hi mitigatiug the evil effeets of excessivedrought.

The Work of the Implements.

The work clone on the stubble field was creditable to the various iMplencents. For deep work on unbroken or hard land the demonstration showed that a grubber ismore suitable than a cultivator. . The cultivators shown, however, should be extremely useful far medium or lighter soils.

in selecting a cultivator it is desirable to see that there is ample clearance not only between the tines but also between the frame and the surface of the eulti, rated land. It would be an advantage if grubbers and cultivatorswere of sufficient width to cover the track of the tra,otor. As grubbers and cultivators are mostly required for spring cultivation, a demonstrationin autumn doe's not pro. ridea satisfactory test of their capa bilities. '

The harrows also were demonstrated under unsuitable Conditions these being, of course, mainly implemers for spring cultivation.


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