The "Little Fellow's" Part in Specialized Farming
Page 55
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POSSIFILY, few people realize the extent to which the small horticultural tractor has become popular in recent years. The facts that these " motorcycles " of the tractor world are less conspicuous than their companion machines used on farms and that they have received less publicity have contributed to their being less well known, but there is no doubt that, in this country alone, the number in use runs into thousands.
The market for these handy little machines is by no means saturated, and we may expect to see them establish a thriving trade for those who handle them. Most of the types are in the nature of motorized cultivators rather than tractors inasmuch as it is usual to mount the tillage tools directly upon the machine.
The two-wheeled layout is by far the most common, the machine being controlled by a pedestrian operator. Lately, however, design has been widened by the inclusion of machines on tracks, with a seat for the operator. There is also a strong tendency to bridge the gap between the mainly horticultural machine and the light farm tractor by 'the production of " baby " patterns of the latter. As a result, it is now possible to cater, without a break, for almost all horsepower requirements.
The market for the real horticultural two-wheelers is largely among market gardeners and fruit growers, who require something of low power with marked features of economy for the exten,sive work of surface cultivation among growing crops. Hence, although many of these tractors are supplied with single-furrow ploughs, it is for cultiliation that the bulk of them is required.
It must be appreciated, in this connection, that there is such a big difference between the relative power required for ploughing and for surface work on some soils that it may not be practicable to combine the two functions economically in one machine for the vegetable grower.
On holdings large enough to justify them, heavy tractors are kept as well as light motor hoes. This arrangement is to be found spreading to the larger mixed farms as well, thus increasing the market for the small machine.
This work of inter-cultivation on the surface, among growing crops, is one of the last strongholds of the horse, but it is one from which it is rapidly being dislodged.
The mechanical hoe in this work may be replacing not only horse but hand labour. A typical instance is in the gapping of root crops, such as sugar beet. These are sown in continuous drills, perhaps 18 ins. apart. When the young plants are sufficiently large to be readily visible, they are reduced in number to small bunches some 9 ins, apart in the drills, and the old practice still largely 'pursued is to do this job with the hand hoe.
But labour difficulties have led a number of leading growers to substitute the alternative system of cross-blocking by machine Here, the small tractor, equipped with suitably spaced hoes, is driven across the drills and the operation of gapping is rapidly achieved.
Where such surface work is the main purpose of the tractor, horse-powers of from If to 4 are commonly employed, but sonle makers offer machines, mounting singlecylindered engines developing 6 or 8 h.p., and these are capable of ploughing a single fall-size furrow in heavy soil, It is anticipated that such tractors may become popular with those smaller grass farmers who are now adding a moderate area of arable land to their holdings, for the purpose of growing forage crops for their livestock. These machines will serve the purpose of a two-horse team and will plough and cultivate quite as rapidly as may be necessary. Furthermore, they are capable of being utilized as motormowing machines in the hay harvest, and are heavy and powerful enough to do a great deal of useful work when hauling' a trailer.
Nearly all these little tractors can be adapted for belt work and will, therefore, afford an economical power unit for wood sawing, pumping, or preparing feeding stuffs for cattle.
When it is remembered that the large majority of farms in this country is of small size, the potential market is clearly revealed. It may be said that there are, at least, a quarter of a million holdings on which such machines may sooner or later find a place.
It is unfortunate that, in the nature of things, the cost of manufacture is proportionately higher for the lowerpowered tractors, but actually the economy in operation is an offset which helps the little fellow to compete where there is any doubt as to the relative suitability of large or small machines.