The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-08-23
WHAT ABOUT TRACTORS?
Extension Service Will Help With
Practical Suggestions.


The interest of Maryland farmers
in the use of tractors has now reach
ed the place where the majority are
considering purchases within short
time Tractor farming has spread
sufficiently over the State so that
machines of one make or another
are represented in practically every
community.
The question is naturally in many
minds, "They arc labor-saving i'm
plements, but do they pay?" 1t If
we'll to save labor, we must save
labor, but it must be done by srbsti-
tuting labor-saving. devices. In this
light. how economical are tractors,
and what are the greatest troubles
and drawbacks in their operation
and maintenance?
If this last question could be
answered by experience it is certain
that hundreds of final decisions on
| tractor purchases would be made
within a week. And the problem OF
getting this experience in condensed
form is one of the recent under
takings of the farm machlner
specialist of the Extension Service
A list of twenty-eight questions
has been prepared which cover tn
important phases of tractor use
such as size of tractor, character O
fields on which it is used, amount o
repairs and others.
In answering these questions
tractor owners have an ezcellen
opportunity for rendering service t.
those who are to purchase machines
A greater number of tractors mean
an increase in available labor, and
hence a greater production rea
son among the first of the basic
duties of those who back our army
MANY farmers will not purchase
tractors without the information
hat careful and prompt answers to
Inc questions will reveal.
Many owners of tractors have
,ignified their willingness to give all
j information possible, and the result
! of the experiences of Maryland trac
tor owners will soon be ready for the
benefit of those considering purchas
IS. If you are tractor owner, re
member that a prompt answer will
benefit fellow farmer. If you arr
thinking of buying tractor, care
to F. A. Writ, of the Extension Ser
Do
you a summary of Maryland owners
experiences as soon as this is pre-
pared for distribution.
Checking up on the tractor at the
md of the season is good business
1t gives the owner chance to fnt
out many things that loosely KEEP
record would never disclose.
But the State Agricultural Society
is going to make it better business
than usual this year by Offering
prizes of $25, $40 and SIS respect
lively for the three best reports
essays on tractor experiences and
use during the year. AS many as
i possible are being asked to keep
mOnLUly T0COTuS VI IuO AioShAhNN
and the work done by them. This
} record is not required, but will aid
the owner greatly, and also enable
! the Extension Service to secure
much data earlier than would be
possible otherwise.
I Only those owning tractors prior
to August / will be eligible for this
contest. They must have used their
tractors primarily for farm work
Reports of essays must be turned If
not later than November 80 to the
: Extension Service, College Park.
These reports will be graded on
saving OF man power, saving OF
horse power, cost of using tractor,
effect of proper use of tractor on
i crop yield, extent of tractor use for
other work besides farming, owners
opinion as to practicability of trac-
tor,
~