Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-24
EDITOR
Old Dobbin's Finish

"Old Dobbin" Is approaching his finish Before
many years be will have pIowed bis last furrow,
just as in Honolulu the last hack plug will have
pulled his last fare. The gasoline motor tractor
will take the place of the noble animal on the farm.
Or, il gasoline becomes too scarce and high, then
internal combustion motors using any sort of cheap
grease fuel will serve the same purpose
Partly on account of the war; and partly through
the march of progress making farming business
rather than occupation, tractors are displacing
horses in many countries, in some lands indeed not
hitherto particularly noteworthy for keeping up
with the times.
"Since the beginning of the war;" Consul Viii.
liam P. Kent writes from Berne, Swiss peasants
have paid increased attention to American agricul.
tural machinery, especially to motor plows The
principal drawback to the introducto' of modern
American agricultural machinery in Switzerland
is that few farmers own more than five to ten acres
and about five to ten head Of cattle; but recently
the larger peasant associations have shown an in.
terest in such machinery, and they might act as
purchasers Of the machines, renting them to the
farmers"
Spain is heard from to the same effect, through
Consul Wilbur T. Gracey at Seville. He says that
considerable interest recently has been aroused in
the Seville district in the of tractors for farm
work. A few years ago, it is stated machines of
mat class were unknown in that part of Spain. One
was imported in 1915 and three in 1916. These
trlal machines we're so successful" according to
the consul chat % have been imported in the first
FIVE months of 1917"
IN Great Britain the government, in its food &C
uVlues IN connection with the war, has about 500
farm tractors in use. These are rented to FARMERS
a HYA6 Torino
Glasgow says without doubt there rever was
time in the history of Great Britain when there
was such demand for motor tractors on the farms
as at present. After explaining how this is large
~ due to war stimulus and the fact that before the
war "ths British farmer was not sufficiently en-
couraged by landlords to extend his cultivated
areas, MI. McCunn goes on to say that "prior to
eight months ago no great interest was taken in
mechanical traction for agricultural purposes.-
this notwithstanding the fame the Fowler pillow
from an English factory earned in Hawaii and 9TH
e sugar fields many years ago-"but existing con-
ditions have forced such assistance we'll into view.
Finally Consul Rqfus E.saRipg n, Ediabprgh says
counties OF Scotland, especially in thu lowlandss
for blowing and other farm purposes is just now
the most notable feature of the agriculture indus
try. Several American types of 16 to "a horse
power have done satisfactory work and have proved
to Be invaluable aids in breaking up the land at
time of serious shortage of farm labor They have
come to be regarded as necessity for agriculture
in the future
War conditions promise to convince Hawaii that
its agricultural industry may be expanded to pro-
dnce food for it's people as we'll as specialties Of
commerce When the interests of the homesteader
and the small farmer are coordinated, as seems an
early probability arising from the present food
campaign, there is no reason why the
diversified agriculture of the territory should not
be marked BY the same high STANDARD of scientific
appliances which has made the Hawaiian sugar in.
dustry worldrenoEned.