The Field for the Agricultural Tractor
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ON various occasions we have referred to the large number of agricultural tractors employed in this country, our last published estimate being 50,000. This figure has aroused a certain amount of criticism, many of our readers with a knowledge of agriculture believing it to be too high. Now, however, our ideas in this connection have been confirmed, for the Minister of Agriculture, after instituting a voluntary census gives an estimate which closely approximates to our own.
At September last the number of wheeled tractors on field work was 41,500; on stationary work, 3,420; the track-laying types numbered 1,500; and to these must be added 1,630 sets of steam-ploughing tackle. The total is just over 48,000, and there are probably others not included in this figure. We refer to the matter mainly for the reason that the numbers give some idea of the market which exists for this class of machine, even if considered only from the replacement point of view. In many instances, of course, horses are still employed, and if these be replaced within a reasonable period the number of tractors should be increased to a remarkable extent.
Unfortunately, agriculture has not yet received that impetus which its extreme value to the country merits, but if we have anything like real encouragement to render us less dependent upon foreign sources of supply, then the tractor business will, indeed, become fruitful.