The Machine Age in Agriculture
Page 29
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NEXT week is one of supreme interest to agriculturists in all parts of England, because during it will occur the famous Royal Show, staged by the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Normally an annual event, the recent war intervened and the show, which should have taken place in Lincoln in 1940, is now sited in that famous agricultural area.
It was at the Freemasons Tavern in London, in 1837, that the English Agricultural Society was born during the Annual Dinner of the Smithfield Club, as the result of a suggestion by Lord Spencer. Two years later it was incorporated by Royal Charter as the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
The first Royal Show was held at Oxford in 1839 and the latest in Windsor Great Park in 1939.
Much has been done by the Society to help the farmer in his selection of machines to facilitate his work. A system of implement trials is operated and silver medals are given for new implements and machines that show good results under practical tests. Now that it is of such vital importance that our farmers produce as much as possible at home and thus save to the greatest possible extent the expenditure of our money abroad, the implement section of the Royal has become more important than ever. In fact, this applies to the whole field of mechanized farming and road transport, both on the farm itself and in connection with the carriage of supplies to the farm and the produce from it Drift from the Land Admittedly and regrettably, farming has for many years been discouraged in Britain, and its workers have been allowed to drift into many other occupations. It is only during the past two Great Wars that it has received any impetus and that following the war of 1914-18 unfortunately vanished. However, during the recent war, agriculture again came into the forefront, tractors and transport for the farm were given priority and something like 20,000,000 acres of land were put under crops, whilst the number of tractors was raised to something like 200,000. This does not compare with, say America, which has ten times the acreage in use, although this is with three or four times our population.
The present exigencies and the probability of at least some food shortages for years to come are forcing us all to place more reliance upon the land, and there is unlikely to be a slump similar to that which occurred between the two wars. The great difficulty, however, lies with the dearth of agricultural workers. For the moment we are adding to their number by employing prisoners of war, supplemented by a certain amount of help from workers in other industries who occupy their " holidays " in helping the farmers. The latter assistance may continue and possibly grow, but the prisoners must eventually return to their native countries.
Machines to Replace Men It is extremely difficult to induce city dwellers to return to the country 'and, therefore, we must not look for any considerable influx from this source. Their place has to be taken by machinery in one form or another, and the best use must be made of the means available. This can be done only by a considerable increase in mechanization. Here the commercial motor vehicle and allied industries can be, and, in fact, are, of enormous assistance. There is an increasing number of manufacturers of tractors, some of exceptionally clever design, and, of course, the vehicle makers have for long produced special types of vehicle to meet farming requirements. No doubt others will appear.
It must be remembered, however, that the farmer is a cautious buyer. He does not want a thing merely because it looks pretty, but for the reason that it possesses the most practicable features and the capacity for work. The fact that we have ceased importing foreign vehicles and almost stopped the supply of farm tractors from other countries, must give a great incentive to our producers, particularly as the requirements here are usually different from those abroad.
Britain has nearly 350,000 holdings of under 50 acres and nearly 200,000 of above this area, including a little over 14,000 covering 300 acres or more. These figures mean that machines designed for huge areas of cultivation may not be what we really require. Considered in terms of replacements. it is estimated that we shall need in a few years an average annual supply of some 1,500 of the old types of track layer, 600 smaller models for the market gardener, 26,000 tractors with three to four wheels and over 14,000 with two wheels.
The present call is, naturally, for far greater numbers, because of the wastage during the war years and the expansion that has occurred. In this connection an interesting development is pointed out in an article in this issue. This is that the manufacture of a large percentage of the implements required for use with powered machines is likely to be concentrated on the present or future producers of tractors. Already measures of co-operation have been instituted between some makers and certain manufacturers of implements.
The Oil Engine Creeps Forward Incidentally, it is believed by the same author that whilst at present 90 per cent. of these machines use vaporizing oil, the C.I. engine may soon be a competitor. There is, in his view, also a call for a small two-stroke, multi-cylindered unit to give high torque at low speeds and possibly disposed horizontally in the machine.
An interesting move is co-operation between farmers to buy specialized equipment which would be beyond their capacity individually. They can thus form pools from which to draw as the need occurs. A similar procedure might be instituted in connection with transport, now that many of the hauliers who previously met their wants in this connection are likely to be put out of business.
One feature that deserves attention in connection with the design of tractors or other mechanically propelled implements is that the operator should be able clearly to see the work being done by the implement. There is still need for intensive agricultural engineering research in which both farmers and manufacturers must play their part. Road transport is, in the majority of instances, the lifeline to the farmer. Few farms are near railway stations, yet their supplies and their produce must reach their destinations rapidly and in first-class condition. The produce in particular must catch the markets, otherwise a great part of its value is lost.
Improvements in Milk Transport The conveyance of milk is, of course, a specialized business and is developing year by year, but even with this many improvements can be effected, particularly in the conveyance of the milk from the dairies to the roads.
In cattle farming the employment of comfortable and hygienic vehicles does much to keep the beasts in good condition and to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
There is, probably, still ample scope for the specialist who develops a good fleet of agricultural machines for hire to farmers, but he must be prepared to equip a good maintenance shop so that the tractors and any other implements he may loan are kept in good order.