The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-08-22
HORSE SENSE IN
TRACTOR BUYING
Something of Interest to Every Farm
er in this Community

That the light tractor may replace
the horse in the heavy grind Of farm
work, just as the automobile has re-
lieved him from pounding over the
roads to town to keep the family in
groceries, is a proposition to which
most farmers in this vicinity will
agree. But when it comes to replac-
ing their horses with tractor, many
obstacles appear, as was shown at a
recent tractor blowing demonstration
where all sorts of tractors were going
through their PAGES.
A salesman had shown an interested
farmer all the good points his tractor
possessed. He had plowed for him,
shown him how easy it was to control
the tractor, and somewhat against the
farmers will, had got him into the
seat and let him start it, steer it, and
stop it. He then began to tell him
for farm work. "That's just it,"
horse I'd know what you are talking
broken and spawned in both hind legs
til it was-paid for and had taken it
iIoiilS am uSCu IL a WNllc. INO, L Ill
not in the market today, I've, got to
look around before I buy"
In this plain statement is shown
the frame of mind of the majority of
prospective light tractor buyers. They
all know how to Judge horses. be-
cause they have raised them, broken
them to work, and studied them. Buy
ing new horse is simply measuring
hi IN 10 rJ
But how is farmer to know he is
getting somewhere near value receiv-
ed when he buys tractor with no
STANDARD specified tons on which to
rely? Or, putting it as it really is,
how is he to know what are STANDARD
specifications" when all tractor manu-
facturers claim theirs as standard? |
How, is he, in other words to detect
spawned and weak lunged conditions
in a tractor?
From the result Of experiments and
tests upon all types of tractors,
general summary can be made show
ing the points of merit necessary for
a good, serviceable light tractor to
have. For the average farm, the
amount of power should range in the
neighborhood of ten horse on the
drawbar and twenty on the belt. On
the average 160-acre farm, according
to census reports, there are six work
horses and colt. The tractor with
ten-horse drawbar pull gives
more power than the average farmer
has in horse-fesh and is, therefore,
a. practical size. A tractor for use
in all sizes of fields should be low
and short coupled. This makes short
turns pos b e and gives
more available power. Select one
with two drive wheels. A single
drive wheel cut the tractors chan
ces at the load in half. Would YOU
buy an automobile with a single rear
wheel? Two drive wheels with a
dltferentlal are absolutely necessary
to meet all traction conditions. Be
sure, also, that the wheels, both front
and rear, are high enough to give
clearance in soft or uneven ground.
This height, also, gives better lever
age on the load.
The power plant of the tractor
should be motor Of the simplest pos
sible construction with low speed and
the fewest possible number of cylin-
ders to deliver the required power.
The high-speed motor wears faster,
uses more fuel, and relies too much
upon its speed for power. Conse-
quently, low-speed tractor reduces
possible repair costs and gives
maximum of service with minimum
of trouble.
If light tractor is to mean econo-
my on the farm, it must use kerosene
as fuel. The increased consumption
Of gasoline is greatly raising the
price, and experts predict a shortage
IN the supply for the near future.
On the other hand, kerosene is not of
SO general use and consequently is far
cheaper. In selecting kerosene
tractor great care is needed, for many
OF the so-caled kerosene burning
tractors are not able to live up to
their claims under actual tests. Be
sure to select tractor that can burn
Kerosene as evenly, smoothly, and
with as much power as gasoline. Test
the contents of the fuel tanks YOUR
self.
Finally, when you 60 to market for
tractor, select the product of a repu-
table company who have had years of
experience in making successful kero-
sene tractors. They will not be ex-
perlmenting at your expense in time
and money, for their product will be
standard. They alone, in the tractor
field, can realize that their best inter-
ests are to serve your interests and
give you your moneys worth in trac-