AGRIMOTOR NOTES.
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Type of Tractor for Light Land. Motors for Small Farmers.
THERE IS AN idea prevalent that the weight of . the tractor to be used on light land does not so
_ much matter. The same people who argue that the light tractor is better for clay than a heavy one often contend, also, that the heavy appliance is the best to choose for light land. It may be true that the soil compression of a heavy machine when used on light land in all kinds of weather does not produce a detrimental effect on the soil. On extremely loose soil, the rolling effect of wheels carrying a. heavy machine would do good. But, to recommend a heavilybuilt tractor to a light land farmer, on those grounds alone, would be most unwise.
Nevertheless, the selection of a tractor for light land is a much more simple matter than is the case with heavy land. Provided the heavy machines are avoided, there is not much to chooSe between most of the light and medium tractors, which are, on the whole, also reasonable in price. One or two points, in consideration of -this matter are, however, important, one of the points being that of speed. It is possible on light land to travel fairly fast with a suitable tractor, and the value of the machine on the farm would be enhanced if it is capable of travelling at a good speed, a speed that can be used for ploughing as well as for haulage work. Ploughing is the essential requirement, even in a tractor to be employed on light land and,'if it has a choice of gears, it will be capable of getting over light work much faster than the specially heavy machine, and it ought -B50
to be able to pull a fair number of plough breasts, say, three or four, according to whether the soil is of extreme or medium lightness. Regarding subsidiary functions, the light machine certainly gives a more varied list of operations, such as belt work, hauling, and so on, which they can do successfully as against the other type, and the farmer can quite safely give more attention to these considerations.
The great point in the matter of selection and use of a tractor is to get one that is, as near as possible, able to do the -work required of it while running just at full load, and to see that this is done. Overloading soon causes serious trouble, whilst running .a machine 'on a loading that is appreciably less than its full capacity is wasteful and makes the work unnecessarily expensive ; and it is for the same reason that h machine of heavier weight than is actually required should be avoided. A big machine—as indeed do all others—costs as much in labour and fuel when running at less than full load as it does when at full load.
It should, without need for going into details, be quite clear that a machine suitable for plaughing he,avy clay would be less economical on lighter land than a smaller and less weighty machine. It has further to be borne in mind that not all of the power developed in the engine can be utilized for pulling the implements attached to them through the ground. A considera,ble, percentage of this power must perforce be used up in turning the gears and wheels of the Machine to propel it • Sc., that here, again, is an objection to the tractor of dimensions and weight that. are unreasonably out of proportion to requirements. On the whole, the light land farmer should, with care, be able to pick out a suitable appliance. There are any number to choose from, the variety being. much greater than is the Case with those best suited for heavier land: In this he has a distinct advantage over his brother of t.1;.e clay The size of the farm and of the fields will have an important bearing upon the size and kind of tractor that will be chosen. There are tractors of all sizes, suitable for all farms, both large and small, and agricultural and market. gardening and, naturally, a big machine will not be needed on a small farm. But, certain of the small-wheeled tractors will be found to be a good investment, mien though the farm be a small one. The Fordson and International nay be given as examples.
Perhaps a. more decisive factor than the size of the farm is the size of the fields. Small fields ate not very adaptable for ploughing and tilling with a large machine. In these .circumstances, and particularly if little besides performing these operations is required of the tractor; the combined motor plough type of tractor is most suitable.. Those models on the market are very good and quite satisfactory. The list includes such well-known makes as the Crawley, Martin, Wyles, the Fowler, and Moline. The Wyles and the Fowler are machines specially adapted for small fields and suitable for mall farmers, small holders, market gardeners and fruit. growers, and there is• scarcely a district in Great Britain where there are no farms on which such machines would not give invaluable service.
The combined .type is complete with plough and tractor, and, although this. is so, the ploughs are easily removed and replaced with cultivators when need arises, and they are capable of performing belt work.
Large versus Small Fields.
The hedges and trees are said to form the most picturesque part of rural England. But, how far are we justified in allowing co much land to be under hedgesfrom the point of view of economy, is another matter and, certainly,the coming of the agricultural tractor will compel some thought being given to the question of converting small fields into larger ones by the .grubbing up of hedges. It is estimated that the loss due to wide hedges, fences and small fields is 5 per cent, of the total area of land under cultivation in England alone, besides the inconvenience caused by ill-shaped corners and bulging sides and ends. The expense of grubbing would be pretty heavy, although it would be amply repaid in a very short time. Some such work is already in progress in some parts of the country, but the initial expense is bound to render such progress slow. Doubtless, value of the undertaking will be more easily realized as the importance of power tillage increases, and the time will come when smallness of the fields will be abolished for the sake of greater economy. For economical working with the tractor, no field should be less than ten acres and, if it is twenty, -so much the better. Every farmer, having a tractor in use or in contemplation, if he has the labour, should seriously consider bow much hedge grubbing it is possible to have done during the winter months, where arable fields join.