The evening times., 1902-07-10

TION-H- W Harris, consul at Mann
helm, writes TO the State Department
under date Of June II:
The sixteenth annual exposition u the
German Agricultural Society has just
closed at Mannheim. As at previous ex-
ri5ftions given by the society in other
parts Of Germany. live stock and agri-
cultural implements formed the chief
exhibits
In machinery and other Implements.
the displays were for the most part ex-
ceIIent and embraced wide variety
Every leading manufacturer Of harvest
ing machinery in the United States was
represented. with from ten to twenty
machines. A Toronto company lad a
large and well selected exhibit. Two
CT three English manufacturers and the
same number Of German firms had dis
plays. Many of the machines were
kept IN motion In this class, the
American exhibits were for in the lead,
and attracted much attention. The
same was true Of hayTakes, tetders. cuI-
t.yators. and other lighter implements
Many thrashers and portable engines
were exhibited. all OF German make. ex-
cept small French separator with a
gasoline motor The thrashers aeet the
requirement of the German farIg,4r that
the straw shall lie broken as little as
possible. which practically excludes the
ordinary type Of American thrasher
IS Tar as noted, but one ex-
hibit Of American pI5ws was made. This
W ould seem TO sbow a want Of interest
on the part OF Cur plow manufacturers.
The explanation is to be found mainly N
the persIstcEcy with which the German
farmer elings to a type Of pillow which Is
not used n the United States. It IS
heavy, poorly shaped. and has a pair OF
wheels from sixteen TO eighteen inches
IL diameter, supporting the front end OF
the beam The native ploWs exhibited
were ali cf this pattern Il would seem
that an eGsy-runniBg American TIow. :,
tTifie heavier than tn, ordinary one
horse apparatus and fitted, II possible,
with q point that could be dressed by
blacksmith. should become popular IL
the mellow soil so common IN many
parts Of the empire. The local agent
v culd have to be thoroughly competent
to teach the use OF the American 2low.
ard it should be sold cheaper thaa the
cumbersome native implement because
simpler in cOnstruetiou) and should
prove far more satisfactory.
Other German farm machinery seems
heavy and clumsy compared with tie
American Parts on which there is little
or no strain are made unnecessarily
strong. This tendency appears in hay
rakes- graindriIIs. mowers. tedders.
shovel DlOWs. Weeders. harroWs. etc.
and reflects the German idea that an i'm
plement shonld not only do the worx,
but give evidence OF lasting qualities.
IN the United States the nan who pays
Tor the harvester or mower is likely 10
be the man who drives II OF sees that Il
is driven properly and kept in good con
dition. In Germany. especially on the
larger farms, the machine is sure TO go
into the hands OF hired man. who may
be exceedingly careless in its use. Prizes
We're awarded at this exposition tC
machinery which would under no cir
cumstouccs be used by an American far
mer, because Of the heavy draft upon
his team
IN farm wagons, also. the exhibits dis
played the prejudice In favor OF heavy.
cumbersome implements. It would
seem that with the excellent public
reads in Germany. the American farm
wagon, if made OF good material and
we'll froned and supplied with three-inch
tire should become more popular uE-
doubtcdly the wood used b. the German
wagon maker IS much inferior to that
employed n the United States. and ac-
counts, 10 great degree for tie larger
size Of the parts The brakes on most
OF the wagons operate by a crank at the
rear end. attached 10 the coupling pole.
Taken as "a whole the exposition
showed the awakening interest in bet
ter farming appliances in Germany. In
many parts Of the grounds were i'm
proved pumps and spraying apparatus,
milk cans. and ChuTus. apparatus for
cooking food for stock by steam. improv-
ed scales for various purposes. etc Many
of these appliances are constructed
along distinctly modern lines and clearly
indicate the trend Of German manufac-
tuTe in It's important field