Mechanical Aids to Farming. IV.
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A Series of Four Articles Written with the Object of Assisting the Farmer to Decide upon the Best System to Employ to Meet his Own Particular Requirements, The Fourth of the Series Deals with Selkontained Farm•motors.
By a Contributor.
Universal motor culture will prove the solution of the small farmers' problem. Dreamers argue that the ideal farm is the little farm well tilled, because of the independent home life which it brings. The small motor plough will come nearer solving the problem of mechanical power on this ideal farm than direct tractors, either internal-combustion or steam. The selfcontained machine is more economical, and in addition its convenience and lightness render it particularly suitable for use on the small farm. It is, however, doubtful if the really efficient motor plough can • be made an all-round machine. The requirements of . • the farm as to traction power are far too widely separated. No one has ever expected a single horse to be an efficient draught animal and a swift-going hunter at the same time. Even on the farm the proprietor recognizes the difference in type, and usually keeps,one or more horses almost solely for, driving„though available for auxiliary power in the field if needed: Why not then look forward to the time when the power requirements of the farm shall have been divided into two classes, the heavy and the light, as it would appear that on moderate-sized farms two types of machines could be employed to advantage The Rotary Principle an Attractive One.
Some of the ideas and inventions of various schools of power-on-the-farm enthusiasts are not without merit, and under future condition3 may develop real commercial value. The rotary principle has a peculiar fascination for inventors, owing perhaps to the rapidity and completeness of the results which it may bring about. Inventors still continue to bring out weird varieties of rotary digging and pulverizing machines, earth saws and the like, all designed to overcome the admitted defects of the plough. Most of these have run on the rock of excessive power consumption. The constant introduction of machines of this type in the past has given the farmer an unfavonrable opinion of mechanical power for tillage, and it was not until the introduction of the small (Wyles) motor plough that the public regained confidence in these smaller types of machines. The prejudice in favour of the horse to some extent is passing. Men are accepting the new order of things, and the problem. now is to adapt mechanical power and farm methods to one another in the way that will give the most useful results:
Times:Have Changed Since '02.
Sow 14 years ago at the Oxford University a lecturer on political economy, laid it down as axiomatic thatscience and invention, the division of labour, and the law of diminishing returns could do little to save human labour on the farm ; that-the conditions of its toil were nearly unalterable, and its processes predetermined to be slow Yet these last few years have seen immense Advance. ,and it is difficult to forecast immediate progress. The motor nimigh is one of the latest inventions placed Upon the English markets, and manufacturers are finding a ready sale for the light machines. Many of the larger models of the same type have been working in Germany for some years, hut they have not proved very successful under conditions of working in this country.
Selection of a Machine.
In selecting a motor plough of the two or threefurrow type, it is necessary that the farmer should bo
satisfied that his land is of a nature which is not too heavy for the successful working of these small machines. It is not wise to have the engine always working at its full rated horse-power, and many mistakes
have already been made, particularly in respect of overloading. The idea with some farmers seethe to be that with any form of mechanical power plants he can plough deeper, and that heavier work can be done than with horses. He does not a,livays realize that these small motor ploughs are designed for doing the same class of work as the horse, and that the advantage derived from their use lies in the quantity of work, or, more correctly, in the increased number of working hours per day. If farmers would keep this in view, and afford the machine some measure of care and attention, these small machines will prove most efficient. They can be used for driving grinding mills, saw benches, root cutters and sirailir machinery. An important consideration in motor.ploughs; as in other agricultural machinery, is that the engines should be designed for the heavy duty of farm work.
Limitations of the Self-contained Plough. Taking into consideration the weight and speed of these machines, a 10 to 12 h.p. 'engine Will prove powerful enough for two furrows on medium land. It would appear, from experience gained in the last two years, that the limit for this class of plough is three furrows. The weight increases with mere furrows to such an extent that the machine becomes too heavy for one man to manipulate satisfactorily, difficulty in turning at the headlands is increased, and more work it needed for ,opening up the furrows. With a twee furrow macl;dne the work is easy andeican be performed by a youth; in fact, at present women are working self-contained motor ploughs quite satisfactorily. Most of these two-furrow ploughs do not exceed in weight round about 20 cwt. ; some are even less. Adhesion is obtained by the use of spikes or cross spuds. Perhaps cross ploughing is the most difficult work they are called upon to perform. If the land is light and sandy, some trouble is experienced in getting a firm grip, but special wheels with extra widening rings, fitted with long spikes or special spudlets, can be attached, and they prove fairly satisfactory. The Martin motor plough is fitted with a caterpillar-type chain drive. This machine is capable of cross ploughing and can work on soft and sandy land without much trouble ; its disability is the tendency, on the part of the chain, to wear. Any of these light machines are capable of working under conditions where it would be impossible to work the direet sets of ploughing taekles.. For inter-cultivation there is a great field for this Class of machine, such as cultivating, hoeing and scufffing between trees in orchards, vineyards, hop gardens, and in similar localities where the traction engine or horses would find it very difficult to work. Sepa'rate attachments can be fitted for performing all these operations.
American Machines as %Vat..
The Universal cultivator, which is illustrated on the previous page of this article, is claimed to be the most universal machine upon the market. It emanates froth the U.S.A. The =Chine is shown with a, maiVater attachment. This can be replaced by a mOwer, binder, harrows, drills, or plough. The ploughing attachment, however, is not well arranged, and it is deubtfuI if good ploughing can be performed, by this class of machine. So maay points have to be taken into consideration in designing a self-contained motor plough, that, as before mentioned, up to the present no machine an satisfactorily do all the operations
mentioned. From the writer's experience of the Wyles and the Fowler machines he haa seen working, the self-contained type of machine appears to have a considerable number of advantages over the tractor with plough. These small machines can be worked within.five yards of the hedgerows, and can finish a field just as easily as a team of horses. The amount of work they are capable of doing is, surprising, taking into consideration their size, weight, and cost. Land
has been.plouglied 5 ins. to ,6 ins, deep with in. to 9 in. wide furrows at the rate of thfee acres 'per day on several occasions, the average tirai per acre being two-and-a-half hours. If, however, the fields_ are short more time is taken up at the headlands. They are also capable of being turned into the furrow much easier than can a team of horses. Enough fuel and water can be taken on the plough for a day's work.
In all probability the self-contained motor will undergo several changes in design in the near future as regards engine power, number of speeds, and diameter and width of road wheels.
Collaboration of Farmer and Engineer Wanted.
The farmer and engineer should work together, and the former contribute more generously than in the past to make conditions favourable for the development of mechanical power. The success of the motor plough depends not only on the efficiency of the plough, but upon the energy and business ability of the operator. It goes without saying that good equipment is the prime essential, but reasonable care and commonsense treatment on the hart of the user are also needed. The future of the motor plough depends a great deal on the education of the people. The farmer is familiar with the horse from childhood. His son should learn the art of running an engine.