The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-29

horses can do all the work, it isn't really
necessary 10 call on the machine man for
artificial aid, but when the flaming is done
on Dig scale 1t pays better TO buy a
traction engine. These are not the ordinary
big. clumsy attachments TO thrashing out
fits, but compactly built little fellows, with
gasoline as the motive power.
With them there is no need of getting
out at ungodly hours in the morning to
feed and water lot of animals. Five
minutes work fills the tank and makes the
machine ready TO do your blowing, harrow
ing, or cultiVating.
The first cost of these engines is pref
~ steep, from $1,000 up, but it cost less to
run them than ii does to feed horses, and
they never get balky They last longer
man the average workhorse and they do
ten times much work a day
Out IN Nebraska l ran across a fellow
with a gang pillow, five in a row. hitched
TO one Of these little engines, and 1t was
steauliy moving across the hundred-acre
held and tearing up the sod at a lively
rate. This same man told me that when
IL came to narrowing he tackled on two or
three big ones ana did the job in a fourth
or the former time.
Potatoes are planted and dug up with
these engines. In planting a large drop
per is used, and in digging them a special
kind of piow is employed
When II comes time in the fall to
thrash, the engine is coupled to a Separa-
tor ana the job is done in short order. If
II is necessary during the winter to grind
1eed Tor the cattle. il is the work of but
mill When grain is to be hauled to mar
ket several farm wagons are attached and
the procession moves off.
There is scarcely a thing about farm
work that these machines will not do and
Iney are growing more popular every year.
The average farmer thought the acme of
comfort and perfection had been reached
In the sulky plow and the riding cutivator
winch saved him many weary steps, and it
mas not been without considerable trouble
that ne mas been induced to take up the
traction engine.
Hundreds of these are now being manu-
1actured and sold every year. The company
sends an agent out TO show the farmer
1t In various labor-saving ways. 1t doesn I
take long TO learn this, and the cost of
an hour
"Sixty-cent wheat and ffty-cent corn
are making Western farmers, where thirty
bushels Of wheat and sixty of corn is an
average yield, independently rich. A hun
dreu acres OF wheat is ordinary field,
ana this alone is enough to net a good in
come on the investment
"A bunch OF cattle will pay the expenses.
ana MS other crops are velvet. The re-
suit has been to run up the price OF land
Tracts that sold for S25 two years ago
brlnS $40 and S45, and $50 land of past years
Is easily marketable at 500 and SEQ The
life IS much easier the work is not nearly
so nard nor the hours so long.
ms mas had the good effect Of making
the farmers sons more content with life
on the farm, and many of them go down
10 the state agricultural schools and take
a course In scientific agriculture. return
ing peter farmers and better citizens.
Inc rural free mail delivery, with its
tacllltes Tor keeping in touch with the life
OF the outside world and the bicycle as a
SUBSTITUTE Tor the carriage are also help
Iul IN the work Of popularizing agricul-