New-York tribune., 1921-05-08
Farm Machinery
Needed i'm India;
Tractors Succeed
Sales Campaign of American
Manufacturers Brings Re-
suits; Large Sections
Suitable for Agriculture

Few people realize the opportunity
for agricultural machinery in Indis
The government Of Ceylon, for i'm
stance, is leasing 1.000-acre tracts for
rice planting in order to increase the
deficient food supply of the island.
There are number Of large agricul-
tupal estates and colonies, and one Ii
now being projected for the cultiva-
tion of sugar on large scale, with all
modern improvements. One Of the
large ironworks is considering the
erection Of q large plant for the pro-
duction of improved plows. The local
governments not only have experiment
stations, but are active with irriga-
tion plans and in many other ways.
Although the Indian small farmer ig
usually too poor to buy agricultural
machinery himself it is hoped that the
growing agricultural cooperative 80
cieties will soon be able to purchase or
lease such machines, and there are
plenty of wealthy men who need them,
as we'll as the agricultural experiment
stations ard colonies fostered by the
government Of India and by the rulers
of the native states.
The belief that Oriental conditions
were unfavorable to the use Of Ameri-
can agricultural machinery and imple-
ments, including tractors, has tended
to make manufacturers of these arti-
cles disinclined to push their sale in
these countries. 1t is encouraging,
therefore, to hear that a sales cam
paign along thoroughly American. lines
by one OF our prominent makers of
tractors is meeting with success even
IN rice farming, an industry in which
conditions were thought to be espe-
cially unfavorable
Unlike China, where much Of the
land. is subdivided into many small
holdings belonging to poor owners,
there are many large estates in India
owned by the mobiles, zenindars and
other landholders, many Of whom are
beginning to appreciate the advan-
tages of labor saving machinery and
more efficient agricultural methods.
The recent prevalence of strikes in
India and the difficulty in securing
labor for mills and other large indus
tries in spite Of the very great popu-
lation, combined with the great in
crease in wages, have caused large en-
Fployers to consider favorably such
methods as promise to make them
more independent of workmen. AS
India has not developed an industrial
class, laborers come almost universally
from the agricultural classes, and will
work only intermittently, returning at
frequent intervals to their homes.
This causes q very large turnover and
increases the difficulty in securing
trained operatives. This scarcity Of
suitable labor applies to tea gradens,
rubber plantations and estates where
rice is grown on large scale.
Contrary to the accepted belief,
while India has large population and
there are many congested areas, there
are large tracts suitable for agricul-
ture which are not now under cultiva-
tion and still larger tracts which could
be made available for cultivation by
irrigation, drainage and other improve
ments. In some of these areas the soil
bakes so hard during the long hot
season that it cannot be broken up by
the primitive Implements which farm
ers use, and in other places it is
covered with jungle and scrub, which
make clearing difficult. Tractors are
now being used to great advantage in
such operations, especially in stump
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