News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-12-17
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ELECTRIC FARMS.

How the Current Can BE SuppIied-Phases
of Electric Farming.
The attention of inventors is being
turned to the adaptation of electricity
to farming. The procuring of power is
the main obstacle. There are several
methods Of obtaining this power within
the reach of any agriculturist. As cur
rents have already been sent many
miles, the spectacle is anticipated in the
near future of an immense power plant
in the center of farming community
supplying the current for every possible
farm use. According to a writer in the
Boston Globe, an artesian we'll may be
made to produce enough electric power
to operate every piece Of machinery run
on farm. There are 1000, 900 wind
mills in operation in this country. Ev-
cry one of these mills can be adapted to
the generation of electric power for
farm purposes The practice is to oper-
ate a dynamo the armature of which is
turned by the mill. Storage batteries
collect the current and hold it in reserve
during the days when there is little or
no wind. 1t takes but little wind to
generate practicable electric current
1t has often been suggested that the cur
rents of rivers might be utilized for
power purposes. This is already being
done near Chicago But, having secured
his electric current by one method or
another, the farmer will want to know
what to do with it. In the west electric
ity is operating Is blade gangplow
which will cut furrow 6 feet wide.
The blades revolve, and the pillow is
pulled across the field by means of a
cable which passes around the drum of
an electric motor on the pillow. In New
York state there is a trolley pillow in
operation. Wires are stretched along
the edge of the field and carry current
to a cross wire, which, as in the case of
the pillow mentioned above, passes around
the drum of motor. But in this case
the motor is attached to the axle of the
pillow wheels and turns the latter with
its own power. Current in this case is
transmitted overland for some distance
from the power house.
An electric pillow has recently been
tested near Chicago which will run in
any direction and at any speed, irrespec-
tive of its surroundings The current was
obtained from a nearby trolley line. 1t
can also be used in place of traction en-
CINE for hauling machinery around the
farm and with driving pulley attached
to the axle it will drive a thrashing ma
chine. This same principle has also been
applied to barrows, to seeders and to
harvesting machines. An electric reaper
has been operated on western wheat
fields. Corn shelters also have been
operated and propelled by the electric
current.
So we may run down the list of cleo
trio churns, electric spading machines,
electric hay lifts, electric tree fellers,
electric fencenakers, electric forcing
frames, electric irrigators, stock food
boilers, sheep shearers, etc. There is a
plan under way in one large abattoir to
electrocute steers instead Of killing them
in the old fashioned way There is a
process for treating manure by electric
ity so as to increase its fertilizing prop
critics. The remaining phase of electric
farming, says the authority quoted, is
that which covers the theory Of the
stimulation Of plant growth by the use
of electric light or by the direct applica.
tion of the current.