THE LINCOLN TRACTOR TRIALS.
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' What to See : Where to See It: Who Should See It.
T0-MORROW, so far as the general public is concerned, will mark the inauguration of the most important tractor trials which have yet taken place in this country. Tractors have now reached a stage of development when their application in large numbers to farming methods will prove revolutionary.
Until the present time though the use of 'tractors has been widespread throughout the country, the machines have been sparsely distributed. Few fariners have had the,opportunity of seeing more than one or two different makes of machines in actual operation, and their opinions as to the qualities of the machines and their work have been based to a large extent upon the performances of the few machines they have seen. Now, however, the farmer will have a wonderful opportunity of viewing something over be machines, representing 31 different makers, actually doing the very work by which he gains his livelihood and upon which much of the future prosperity of this country depends. He will thus be in a, position to judge the comparative capabilities of the various machines entered. He will also be able to note which machine is suitable for certain classes of work and what type of plough is suitable for the particular machine which he prefers. On the Monday and Tuesday, Mr. G. W. Watson, M.I.M.E., M.I.A,.E. technical adviser to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, will be busy making dynamometer tests of the drawbar pull required for each type of plough in different 'oils, and the drawbar pull exerted by each tractor ; this information will be given to the entrant, who Will thus be able to fit the most suitable type of plough to his machine.
The trials will take place at various farms on land belonging to Lord Monson of Burton Hall, about miles north of Lincoln, to the left of Ermine Street and running both left and right of that main road which runs parallel and to the left of this main street. To the left of the main road the ground drops and all the fields to be ploughed there are in the valley where the soil is heavy. To the right the ground is level and light. On the right is also the South Carlton Aerodrome where an exhibition of tractors, implements, etc., will be held. Incidentally, the village of South Carlton is practically in the centre of the ground upon which the trials will be herd. Tests of road haulage capacity will be conducted at intervals throughout the three days on an awkward section of road leading from South Carlton to the main road. This haa a somewhat difficult surface and has an up grade the whole way—a distance of nearly half a mile.
Very careful precautions' are being taken to prevent any " faking" of the machines during the trials. Each tractor will be under observation by two independent observers who will be selected in the following manner :—Every maker who enters a tractor will also send an observer, and this observer will watch the machine of some other entrant ; a number of farmers in -the vicinity of Lincoln have also offered their services, and suitable ones will be selected to act as second ebserver for each machine.
lit order to assist visitors in getting to and from the station, which is 4, miles away, the Society is arranging a service of chars-a-banes. On the Wednesday ploughing will take place throughout the day from 10 to 5, with an hour's interval for lunch. The site of this ploughing. will be on heavy three to four horse land in a field on the left side of the main road from. Lincoln.
On Thursday ploughing will take place on cliff land to the right of the road. On Friday there wil be ploughing on cliff land from 10 to 1, and the land already ploughed. will be cultivated from 2 to 5. Preparations have been made at four farms to thresh the farmer's own corn, and suitable machines for this purpose have been secured. Several of the tractors will take Minis at demonstrating their threshing capacity throughout the three days of the trials. All machines will be subject to most thorough tests, and the judges in their reports will take into eonsidera.tion—among others—the following points : (a) weight of the machine in full working order with spuds ; (b) weight per sq. ft. on front and back wheels separately in the case of a wheeled machine, or weight per sq. ft. of track in contact with the ground for a track machine, in eaoh'ease 'calculated on a sinkage of 1 in. only ; (o) the cost of fuel and lubricating oil per acre in proportion to drawbar pull ; (d) water evaporated per acre. Each observer will take up his, position not later than 8.50 a.m. each day, and 'Wil 'eemain on duty with the tractor to which he is appointed -until the close of each day's work. He will take ,records of all fuel used on the machine, which will be done by ensuring that at the beginning Of each day the fuel tanks are all empty. They, will then be filled and the amount of fuel used in doing so noted; this amount will be entered on the observer's card. He will also keep a record of quantities of grease and oil used and, in the case of steamers, water. The judges have been appointed by the National Farmers"Union. They are all Members of the Council. This method.of appointing,jUdges from Itmongst the farmers themselves is considerably better than appointing engineers who,. though they may be thoroughly conversant with the mechanism of various. types of tractors and may he able to report on such [natters as their efficiency, yet may not fully understand the requirements of the farmers. Everyone interested in ageiculleiral matters, whether he be manufacturer, farmer or agent, should do his uttno'st to attend these trials. The manufacturer will be able -to get into closer touch with the, potefitial users and will thus be able to study their requirements. The agent will be in a position to meet farmers who are in need of machines, and the farmer, after inspecting the machines in operation and selecting the type or types which he prefers, will he able to approach the agent on the spot with inquiries as to cost and delivery.