Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-10
SOLUTION OF A PROBLEM;
TRACTORS AND FINANCE
Boy Scouts Testing Out New Tractor.
Said to Be Within Reach OF
Average Farmer.
SIMPLICITY AND CHEApNEss
Richmond Man Points Out Some OF
the Troubles Farmer Meets With
in Use OF Machinery-Also Ways
to Finance Plowman.

government. have put under cultiva-
ton large tract. and there they are
thoroughly testing, under competent
instructors, one Of the first cheap
tractors sent out by Henry Ford. the
automobile maker OF Detroit. Tho
manufacturer donated the tractor. and
sent il to the Scouts on a private en-
press car II has now hecn used con-
,tinuousiy for two weeks. and GOOD
judges Of such things say IL has proved
its high offciency
Mr.. Ford thinks he has solved tho
problem Of cheap and depcnda bio
farm tractor. He has been working
on the problem for a number of years.
and until recently has withheld an
nouncsmcnts of his progress in this
direction. It IS 4 httirs time FOR the
solution Of the problem, il il has been
solved and there * strong evidence
that II has been. in the fac; that tho
inventor and builder is willing 10
subject his machine TO practical test
where the eyes Of She nation may he
focused upon Il; HES faith in the
complete success OF the machine is
atunda ntly shown by his declaration
in a letter TO the United States ACr-
cultural Department, the officials Of
which have been. and are. greatly in
tercstinE themselves in tho problem
81 improved methods Of cultivation by
means of tractors. and tractors CHEAP
enough 10 be within the financial reach
OF ordinary farmers. In this letter
Mr.. Ford cnlrnatically declares that
he intends to have $4,000 or 10000 Of
these cheap tractors in operation in
this country by fall,
COMMUNITY AND CO-OPERATloN
WORK MAY COME IN
II is believed by those who have in
vestiEatcd the matter that MIR. Ford
has at last solved the problem of
placing within the reach of any farmer
with enough money 10 purchase a
pillow horse. 4 machine that will do
the work in the matter of blowing of
six good horses and keep it UP all
.of the twcnty-four hours Of the day,
IL necessary.
The great advantage to the average
farmer in being enabled to get a
tractor which can be operated day and
night for his own use and that at
about the price of good mule. is
obvious Not only can tho acricul-
turist cultivate his own land better
and more cheaply, but he also has the
material advantage OF being able to
lease his tractor to his neighbors. and
thus cultivate an entire community
within a radius OF several miles. Or
the community and cooperative bust
ness can come in here splcndidly. A
number OF farmers can chip in and
buy a partnership tractor, or two
for quite large community, the same
to be paid for and used on the CO.
operative plan.
ON this point Carl Nrooman. AS
sstant Secretary of Agriculture,
through literature recently diSsem :
mated throughout the country. urged
the increased use OF farm tractors, and,
among other things. said
Every farmer who owns a tractor,
owes it to his country TO do all the
custom or exchange work he can do
without ncglcctins his own crop.
Every hour that his tractor would
otherwise be idle II ought - he at
work helping a neishhor who is be-
hind hand with his blowing or har-
rowing. Make your outfit work from
dawn until dark: make it work all
Ugh, II you have enough operators
~ I'll the shifts The acreage TO be
harvested hangs on tho pillow. DO not
e, acre that might otherwise he
1:z-;ed 60 untitled because your
-:sctor Is in the shed. Help your
z.!Shtors. and thus do your part in
s:-sr s,hertrs ,hs allied lines on the
.astti. Fronts Of Europe"
SOME VIEWS OF An
OBSERNANT RICHMOND MAN
While the subject Of cheap tractors
Is lnce! discussion, and while the Agrl-
.rl.'u!a! Department is waiting on Con-
s!ess 70 delegate TO it the authority
TO prov!ee the funds to enable the de-
T ~ ~ tn .,r,
.TnooiiizinE tractors, few lines which
.Ttacned The Times Dispatch from a
-"ell-known gentleman OF Richmond
are in order. lie writes.
There arc quite number OF trac-
tors III Virginia idle, through lack Of
competent drivers. The failure OF farm
tractors to become moro popular has
-heen en'irely due to the lack Of expert
drivers. have seen 4 first- class four
niow Tractor handled in such Way
that no good. practical farmer would
allow II 10 plow am acre OF land or has
-1arm. while the same tractor. handled
-oN an expert driver. turned out piow-
Ing 10 satisfy the most particular and
certainly superior work To wha, is
"beinE done by 30 pcr cent of men en-
-ployed on farms to-day would suc
rEest that the agricultural council OF
Nsaftty procure 4 list OF every available
tractor in the state. ascertainius on
what terms they can be rented OF pur.
chased. and also cndcavor to Get N
touch WITH q few irSt-.lass driver.
WHO have had oNuerieucc li;tudlins fair,
tractors plowiur. etc. All tractors be.
ing used At This season Of the wear :ol
immediate crops ought to hc OF sun.
client capacity {" handle ihrc. or fou,
.plows along with q double -cutaway
disc harrow"
II may he hat tho nov. tractor NOV,