The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-05-21

necessity and competition are crowd
inc the horse, not out OF existence,
hut into channels more suitable to his
endurance and strength.
While the human equation enters
largely in the economical result of
tractor farming, q recent comparison
hof ween tractor and animal power
w.s made after an exhaustive test by
the influential Kansas Farmer, and
published in its issue of January 9th.
This is of peculiar significance, in
that. when the cost Of raising an acre
Of produce is analysed, it is found to
consist of the combined costs OF a
series of distinct operations, each n
of which helps to swell the total. In
comparing the cost as applied to three
If these common farm operations, it
ia found that under ordinary condi-
lions, the cost of blowing per acre with
the tractor was 1884, with horses
1886. resulting in a saving OF So per
cent in favor of the tractor. In har-
ves1inp the crop, a second operation,
81 was found that with a tractor
drawing harvesters. the cost Vas .273
per acre, and with horses as the
motive power, the cost was 1853, re-
sulting in a saving Of % per cent by
using mechanical power. In q third
operation. that Of getting the crop to
market, the cost per bushel in hauling
the wheat by tractor power ton miles
on an average road was .023, and with
horses .O75, making a saving OF SO per
cent once more in favor Of the oil
tractor. .
each operation which distinguishes a
successful manufacturer from the
non-money maker. On the farm the
same principle holds true. Cutting
down the expense OF single opera
tions will lessen the total expense OF
raising an acre Of wheat, OF oats, or
barley. -.
By adopting mechanical power on
the farm, in which the Kansas farmer
made their investigations, an average
saving of A per cent was achieved in
three operations, to-wit: Flowing,
harvesting and hauling to market.
Had the experiment been continued,
an equal saving could have been
brought about in disking the seed bed
and in drilling.
Professor L. W. Chase, head Of the
engineering department of the Uni
versity of irebraska, Is quoted as say
ing that re could perform every
operation N raising corn, with the
tractor, APP from cultivating.
In the primary investment which
our farmers must make either In
animal or mechanical power, the
question must be brought up that the
oil engine, perfected as it is today,
not only can do the draft work, which
in the past has fallen upon the horses,
but it performs other duties with the
belt w~hichcannot bedone satisfactorily
by any other power except steam or
electricity. For instance, the operator
of an oil tractor controls his own
power plant so that he can thresh
| when he pleases. He can bale his hay
at the right time; he can fill his silo
when the corn is at its best, and he
can operate a husker and shredder,
thus making a money crop out OF his
hay. His spare moments can be used
in road making, and even when his
outfit Is totally idle, it Is no operating
expense to him.
I%ncontrast to this, the census figures
show that the average days work of
a horse is three hours out of the
twenty-four. His yearly upkeep ex-
penSe approxfmates 5000, and his
hourly wage for work is l6 cents. One
reason for this is that the horse is q
wasteful fuel consumer. He uses up
80 per cent of the power-giving value
of the food he eats in the energy
expended in chewing and digesting It.
60 per cent more of his oats and hay
are consumed in propelling him by his
own muscles from place to place.
In fact, less than 10 per cent, under
most ideal conditions, of the food
which a horse consumes is delivered
on the whittietree.
On the other hand, the better makes
of tractor units are capable of deliver.
ing at least so per cent of their rated
horse power at the draw bar. This,
in the course of a year, results in ire
mendous economy. On n acre it
represents only the difference between
a small or large profit. On a million
acres it represents an asset to the state
too great to be ignored. If we begin
at the bottom when II habits are
just forming and we are all keen fol
conquest, it will be possible for us tc
make Montana the most efficient as
we'll as the most pleasant state fol
farmers to live in.