THE MARKET FOR TRACTORS IN CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.
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milE substitution of animal by mechanical power has made eonsiderable headway in Czecho-Slovakia since the war, with the result that thu market for motor tractors is rapidly expanding. • The country comprises 14,600;000 acres of arable land and has a population of about 14,000,000 people. Large steam-tractors manufactured in Czenho-Slovakia by the Skoda Work-c, of Pilsen, were formerly used extensively on the large farms of the country, but, as a result of the land reforms inaugurated sine the war, large holdings have become fewer and the demand for steam-propelled machines has become correspondingly less.
Light tractors of the wheeled class are now the most popular with the farmers. Several American makes are cM the market and German manufacturers are showing some activity, whilst corns competition.may be expected from national makers, who are now closely studying t.0 market.
Tractors are used principally for preparing the soil for crops of sugar-beet,
grains and potatoes. Hitherto, light machines, pulling one-bottom, 12-in. to 16-in. ploughs, have been utilized in preparing laud for beet growing, but the trend is now towards the use of heavier tractorS which are able to pull two-bottom and three-bottom ploughs to
greater depths in heavy soil. The deepest ploughing, from 16 ins. to 18 ins., is required in the. hop-fields of Western Bohemia, but tractors have not yet been extensively used for this purpose.
The season for tractor sales begins after harvest in August. 'Credit balances extended in connection with such sales are usually liquidated with
the succeeding harvest, thus involving a period of retail financing varying from six months to a year and, in some cases, even longer. The burden of sucl; financing has been largely borne hitherto by the local agent operating on his own account. Hire-purchase facilities are available, but at relatively high rates 'of interest. Prospective buyers look to the agent for credit, as well as for a guarantee of performance of the tractor for ,a period of from six months to a year.
The appointment of district Agents is considered to be probably the most satisfactory method of covering the territory, although only one foreign tractor manufacturer has established direct distriet dealers. ' Others are operating through centralized agents, who maintain sub-agents in various areas.