Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-21
Machinery for the Farm.
A'HSsy Tvs ssAS
George E. Simmons. Professor Of Agronomy, at
Farmers Week.

Machinery for the Farm.
George E. Simmons. Professor Of Agronomy, at
Farmers Week.
On Friday morning, March 18th, in the
Farmers Week Course, Professor Geo.
E. Simmons of the Agronomy Depart
ment, In his lecture on Machinery for
the Farm" discussed the Importance Of
farm machinery in agricultural develop
ment in this country In the past and in
the future. He said:
"The agricultural development Of the
past fifty years has been due more to
the advance made in the development OF
farm machinery and its improved effi-
cheney than to any other factor that has
affected agriculture in the United States.
1t is due to the efficiency of farm ma
cbinery that the present agricultural
population is able to maintain the food
supply necessary for the maintenance OF
our present population. AS the use OF
modern machinery enables the laborer
to do what was formerly done by two or
more laborers and do it with a greater
degree Of perfection.
The lecture was in part az follows:
In the study Of the agricultural devel.
opment of the past centuries We IND
that but little progress was made. The
tools and implements used thousands of
years ago were not much improved upon
until recent time. Indeed it has been
within the last century that any marked
improvement 10 agricultural machinery
has been brought about. Many here
present can recall the cruder methods
and cruder implements that we're used
even within their recollection.
The great civilization which has devel-
oped in this country is due very largely
to the improved methods made possible
by the development of machinery both
in the city and on the farm. Nations
back ward in the development OF agricul-
tural machinery are backward all along
The line Of improvement. The moving
machine has supplemented the scythe.
The grain harvester has supplemented
the cradle; and the potato digger, to a
great extent, the man with the hoe
The farmer of to-day is able to do much
more work In day, to do 1t at the prop
er time, and do it more thoroughly than
in the times of hand labor on the farm.
In the case of harvesting machinery,
grains and grasses may be harvested at
the proper time in their development to
secure maximum returns of the crops, in
the most favorable condition. By hand
methods, work was begun when the hay
was too green to cut, and lasted over un-
til the hay was 80 woody that 1t was IN
fit for best use by animals as feed.
In like manner much grain was bar
vested when too green, securing only
shriveled grain or was harvested when
quite late leaving the poor farmer at the
mercy of poor weather conditions, in
which to harvest the crop.
The acreage of tillsge crops has been
increased very largely which makes pos.
sible the preparation Of the land for the
renewal of grass plants, in order to Sc
cure large yields OF hay crops. At this
time OF high cost Of hand labor, would
like TO cali your attention to the cost per
acre of machinery service exclusive OF
the man and horse labor used in connec-
made along this line by several OF our
states. l will quote from Minnesota
Bulletin No. III. In these data the
amount of depreciation and the original
cost of the machine including repairs
have been taken into consideration.
Grain binders, eighteen and one-tenth
cents per acre. Grain seeders, seven and
one half cents Binders, eighty-swo and
six-tenths cents; corn planters, eight and
seven-tenths cents; moving machines,
twenty and six. teDths cents; rakes, eight
and one half cents; plows, eight and sew
en-tenths cents; harrows, one and seven
teuths cents; discs, eight and nine
tenths cents. This shows the average
cost per acre to secure the use Of ma
chinery on the farm, where reasonable
number of acres is handled per machine,
per year.
As to the duty of machine, by aver.
aging a large number Of estimates OF
rates of work for different machines, 1t
has been concluded that machine COW
ing one foot in width Of surface should
go over one and four-tentbs acres per
day.
On this basis, a plow turning twelve
inch furrow, should plow one and four
tenths acres per day. A six-foot NOW
ing machine, eight and four tenths acres
per day. A nine-foot hay rack about
twelve and one. half acres per day.
Some farms may be over-supplied with
machinery, but many more are under
supplied. In many communities, salts
factory arrangements can be made
among groups Of farmers, that would
provide all of them with up-to-date ma
chinery at small expense. Machines may
be purchased by different individuals,
and by not duplicating the kinds already
purchased, or to be purchased, by their
neighbors, by a method OF hiring, all
may be accommodated, where the acre
age 10 not too large. We might suggest
as some of the implements to be handled
in this way:-a grain seeder, that Will
distribute grain at the same time distrib-
uting grass seed and commercial fertil-
izer; a self-biuding grain harvester might
be owned by another man; corn bar
vester by another; an ensilage cutter by
another; a tanning aud grading mill By
another; and 50 on, until the community
is we'll supplied with up-to-date ma
chinery at minimum expense.
10 purchasing machinery, one recon-
mendation would be iu place here, as to
what machinery to purchase. We should
recommend the buying OF standard
makes Of machines from reliable manu-
facturers, and, where possible, purchas-
cd from dealer who will carry the sup
plies for these machines In stock, within
a reasonable distance of the farm.
A bit Of advice, given in . quotation,
would, think, appropriately conclude
this discussion.
"Be not the first by whom the new is tried;
Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.'
Give the Cow q Rest Period.
In your Jan 23d number, E. E. g.,
Halsey. Oregon, asks why bis three-year-