THE AGRIMOTOR IN LINCOLN AND KENT.
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The Type of Vehicle Suitable for Each County. The Question of Overhauling.
FOLLOWING up previous articles dealing with the agrimotor in different parts of the country, it is encouraging to note that, while in some parts demands for new tractOrs have not been as great as one would have expected, yet in others trade has been very good.
I am informed by the directors of Rootes, Ltd., of Maidstone, that their agrimotor department during the past autumn has been much busier than at any time before that. Without hesitation, Rootes say K that practically every large farmer in ent, Surrey and Sussex is interested in the question of buying a tractor, and their sales were beyond what was anticipated. Jud.ging from present enquiries, there will be a:big demand for agrimotors in this part of the country during the coming spring, and farmers are fully alive to the labour-saving possibilities of the agria motor, and are at present just trying to make up their minds which is the most suitable one for their own particular requirements.
ture, and also the hop fields and fruit farms ; for all general purposes the Austin is the agrimotor that has proved to be the most popular. For fruit and hops most agrimotors are useless, and oxfly these such as the Cletrae, Beeman and New Britain can be used.
There is barely 5 ft. clearance between the rows of hop bines, afid the narxow width of these tractors, together with their turning movements at the end of the furrow, make them the only tractors suitable for this work.
In this part of the country we find that the matter of handling the agrimotor by the farmer and of' repairs is the same old story. With regard to the question of repairs, the greater part of this, in the south-eastern counties, is carried out by agricultural engineers, and not in motor garages. Rootes, Ltd., carry out repairs at all their depots. In the case of a breakdown while the agrimotor is at work, it is necessary to send out a man to the farm for the purpose of carrying Out repairs on the spot ; but for general overhauls, however, it is usual for the farmer to bring his tractor into the workshop.
In regard to the matter of service, it is absolutely necessary to have a man who can call at regular intervals on the farmer, especially at his busy season. If the running of the agrimotor is not supervised in this way, the farmer will Work it in any condition and it soon breaks down, resulting in.the loss of goodwill, to say nothing of what the farmer loses by not being able to use his power. This man supervising tractors will be able to make any small adjustments that may be necessary, and it is most imperative that this should be done.
An agrimotor should be taken into the engineer's shop or garage once every year at least ; but no farmer will send it in unless he thinks there is some,: thing the matter with it.
The story from Lincolnshire is not quite so bright as from the part of the country we have just been dealing with. Trade was fairly good last,year ; indeed, many orders were booked up for tractors. which could not then be delivered. The inquiries during the past autumn have been very small, but Prospects are expected to open up in the spring, and it is certain that Lincolnshire cannot need less agrimotors than other parts of the country.
I am informed by Mr. Wright, of R. M. Wright and Co., Ltd., of Lincoln; that the type of agrimotor most in demand around Lincoln and in Lincolnshire is the small one, such as the Austin and the Fordson.
In regard to after service and repairs, the work is done much in the same way as indicated for Kent, Sussex and Surrey. The garages do a large amount, and the garage selling an agrimotor generally looks after it for some time to the best of its ability ; but agricultural engineers also undertake 'repairs and, in mauy instances, those who hire out agrirnotors, being generally ex-Service men, undertake repairs for farmer's, as well as their own. In other instances, these people go to the larger dealer for spare parts. R. M. Wright and' Co. stated that they generally do repairs in the farm buildings, as it is impossible to remove agrimotors a long distance or to tow them in the same way as a motorcar. If a part re
quires turning or a new part made, it is sometimes necessary to bring parts of the agrimotor into the works. Periodical inspection by engineers is in practice. R. M. Wright and Co. have a schedule of all the tractors they have sold, and their engineers report upon them periodically.
Apart from the above, there are many indications that the demand for agrimotors is beginning to increase again, and there is one thing certain about it'— the agrimotor has become as firmly established in British agricultaral practice as the horse, and as long as,bread is eaten wheat will be needed, and the agrimotor will be required all the time to perform the greater share of preduction. I know farmers have not been buying agrimotors as fast as one would like to,have seen them, but then they best know their own business, and, judging from practical experience and practical knowledge, there seems no reason for discouragement where a good article in the agrimotor line is concerned.. Farmers have begun to exercise considerable discretion in their choice of suitable machines, and only good ones will sell. AGMZOT