THE 1921 TRACTOR TRIALS.
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Some Comments on the Regulations Governing the Trial to be Held Next September.
THE 1921 tractor trials to be arranged by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, will, in many respects, be similar to those conducted by ,the same society at Lincoln in 1919, and they will differ from last year's trials as much as the latter differed from. those of the previous year. But, while there is likely to be much similarity between 1919 and 1921, there is such an improvement in the matter of details as to give promise of really interesting and satisfactory trials.
In the first place, the event takes the form of a trial and a demonstration. Each machine will be put through certain tests which will serve as the trial, and the Society will endeavour to keep the machines all engaged when they are not actually under test, thus giving each entrant an opportunity of demonstrating the work of his particular machine.
_ Two important points to be noted are that the classes are quite different from last "year, and there will be no award of prizes. All the internal-combuation engine farm tractors for direct traction and belt work will be placed in one class, and there will be no sub-division according to horse-power, as was the case last year. These tractors will be in class 1. Class 2 is similar' but for steam direct traction
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machines. Selfscotained motor loughs and cultivators will he' placed together in. Class 3 as last year, and so will the internal-combustion engine cable ploughing sets, and there will be no class for steam cable tackle. New.features include Class 5 for selfpropelled garden ploughs and cultivators, Class 6 for tractor ploughs, Class 7 for tractor cultivators, and Class 8 for disc harrows.
There will be no chance of any one firm endeavouring to take an advantage by sending a large number of tractors, as the regulations lay down that not more than two ..self-propelled machines of any one make and type may be entered for the trial and demonstrakon.
Dissatisfactioe was expressed last year, in many quarters, at the apparent lack of oversight during times when machines were not at work, but this yea/ all self-propelled machines will be under observation throughout the period of the trials, and each entrant at his own expense must provide a technical observer for each self-propelled machine which he enters. The observer's duty will be to watch any self-propelled machine to which he may be appointed by the committee or its officials.
The competing machines may be required to remain after the event, for the purpose of ploughing. out incompleted plots and fields. During the course of the trials there will be one continuous period of approximately six hours' ploughing, during which part of the trial one machine of each make and type will be under special observance, and fuel consumption, water consumption, speed, width, and depth of ploughing, acreage and negativ6 work done on the headland, will be recorded. Throughout the six hours' continuous ploughing test, the average depth for all furrows ploughed at the same time will be recorded.
This is a very important point, and should, prove of considerable interest to farmers or prospective buyers. It indicates an honest effort to find out what a machine is really worth, and what it can do. It is some such guidance as this that visitors to the trials in past years have tried to discover.
In regard to this matter, it should be noted that, according to regulation 16, each tractor throughout the whole of the six hours' continuous ploughing test shall have a draw-bar dynamometer permanently in series with the drawbar, and a continuous record Of work done will thus be obtained, and will form the basis of the subsequent report. An attempt to overcome the difficulties of varying soil texture in the different fields, will be made previous to the trials, when tests will be taken for ascertaining the land resistance by means of a special plough and dynamometer, and if time permits, tests will also be taken to ascertain the resistance of lands .in various fields at varying depths. Each tractor will be weighed before the trials commence. The actual demonstration work of the trials will commence on Tuesday, September 20th, and continue until Friday evening, Saturday being reserved for final inspection and photography. After each tractor has been submitted to the six hours' continuous ploughing test under special observation the remainder of the time will be occupied by belt tests and general demonstration work with ploughs, cultivators, and other implements.
Th5 committee will endeavour to keep all the machines at workthroughout the whole period of the trials, although, of course, they cannot guarantee to do se.
Another point of importance to farmers is covered by regulation 7, which sets out that the current selling price of each machine at the date of entry shall be declared by the entrant for inclusion in the catalogue, and a guarantee shall be given that the price will not be increased upon deliveries effected within a period of three months from the completion of the trials unless any such increased price is justified by advances in wages, prices of materials or fluctuation in the rate of international exchange.
I do not suggest that, in the past, any dishonest action has taken place on the part of entrants during the trials, but provision is. made. against all suspicion of that during the forthcoming event. Regulation 19 provides that, after each day's work, whether in tho field or on the belt, all tractors shall be driven back to an assembly park, where they will he placed under police observation.
The bad tractor will stand no chance whatever, as, under -regulation 31, the committee have power to prohibit any machine from taking further part in the trials in the event of its not -performing satisfaetorily during the early stages. So much, then for the general regulations, viewed from an agricultural standpoint. We will now take the items relating to tractors and implements that will be recorded, and included in the report, which are as follow :—
(a) Weight of machine.
(b) Weight per square inch -of wheel area -bearing on the ground, allowing a sinkage of 1 in. (e) Results of tests on winding gear.
(d) Minimum width of headland required for turning when ploughing. (e) Belt horse-power developed at declared engine seed. (f) /Cumber of attendants required for _ploughing. (g) Maximum draw-bar effort obtained with maker's standard spuds, or strakes, but without wheel extegsiOns.
(h) Units of work performed during the observed six hours'. continuous plo.u4ing test.
(i) Fuel cost per acre and per unit of work during six hours' continuous, observed ploughing test. (k) Water consumption per acre and per unit of work during six hours' eontmuous, observed ploughing test. _ (I) Time required for preparing machine for ploughing, including fitting and removing of spuds, bands, etc. (m) Price of tractor complete with standard , spuds, tools, and other standard equipment. The work done by ploughs, cultivators and other implements entered independently of tractors will be reported on by the engineer, who will consider the following points :— (a) Ease of turning. (b) Clearance between plough bodies. (c) Clearance beneath plough bodies when the plough is lifted. (d) Range of adjustment to hitch and adjustability to, various types of tractors.
(e) Weight. (f) Draw-bar pull required per square inch of • furrow section.
(g) Adjustment for different widths and depths of ploughing, pitch of body, and width of breast. Commenting npon the above points, it can_ be safely stated that none of them are unimportant. The weight of the machine and the pressure per square inch of wheel area are matters of much concern, especially to the heavy-land farmer, and, further, in view of the fact that attempts are being m.a,de in certain quarters to disoredit the tractor on certain classes of land, owing to its weight. and the pressure which it exerts upon the soil. The number of attendants required are important items in the labour bill, and the fuel costs per acre again are matters of the first order as far as the farmer is concerned, and he will watch these points. Viewing the whole position broadly, one can safely say for the information of the tractor user, that every precaution will be taken to ensure his fullest
satisfaction. AGRIBIOT.