The daily morning oasis., 1919-03-21

value, it should not require much ar
gument to convince any thinking per-
son as to the value of power-far1ning,
how that properly built implements
are obtainable.
At the first tractor show in 1911,
out of eleven manufacturers of trac-
tors only seven, could be prevailed
upon to put ON an exhibit and Of
these the lightest was $4,000 pounds
weight and the largest $1,000 pounds
and required an extension ladder to
get on it and an auxiliary engine to
start the main. power plant. None
were sold at this exhibit and no Won
der, as it required experts to start
them and experts to keep them run
ming, and only farms of vast extent
could have had fields of sufficient
area to have employed such 1non-
ster. There was decided improve
ment at the NEXT show with twenty
three exhibits and weight down to
II 900 pounds, but still few were sold
and the farmer asked for lighter trac-
tors, built with his uses for it con-
sidered, rather than mass of ma
terial with real value only as its
weight of metal could be considered.
Today such tractors as the farmer
needs can be purchased and are be-
ing delivered at the rate of $50 per
day from the Fordson tractor plant
at Dearbon, Michigan, and even this
remarkable production is being in
creased as demand warrants.
Implements are being produced in
like quality designed for use with this
particular tractor and built of vana-
dunn steel with the quality of ma
terial and workmanship, replacing
antique methods of bulk and cast
iron parts, as built into the old horse
drawn implements, and a modern
tractor plow, weighing approximately
600 pounds, breaks more ground inch
es than the old 1000 to 1900 pound
implement it replaces.
Most Of the present-day small trac-
tors eonfine ,themselves to wheel
methods of obtaining its traction, as
the caterpillar type is found to be
hard to keep in repair on account of
its many parts, which fabrication does
not help, as it simply tends to gather
dirt, and act as an abrasive material
increasing rather than decreasing
wear.
The tendency is towards simplicity,
compactness, light weight, short turn
ing radius and to build long life
into the tractor in order that the
farmer may obtain years Of service
from his implement and depreciation
be extended over long period of
time.
Another important subject discus
sed was the education of the farmer
as to the value Of fabrication and
care Of his implements, and especially
the most neglected thing-that of not
housing his farming machinery at all.
Passing through the snow covered
areas, a person realizes very easily
the terrible toll every year taken on
farm profits by permitting unhinder-
ed, the action of inclement weather
and snow on nnhoused vehicles, and
1t is only a short time until figures
OF losses from this source, losses
from evaporation, and loss from in
cultivation, becomes avail
able to the tiller Of the soil to the
mutual benefit of himself and the
public.
Altogether indications point to-
ward unprecedented business and
with those Of aus situated in a place
where opportunities are SO numerous.
where agricultural possibilities can
be developed to rank wits the best
districts in the United States, there is
truly reason for optimism.