The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-06-05
FARM MACHINERY BIG
AID TO AGRICULTURE
Professor Compares Hoe to
Latest Implements.

New 10rKs-10e importance OF I'M
proved farm implements to successful
agriculture is discussed by =. r. Gross,
professor of rural engineering, in an
article prepared for an agricultural
publication of New Jersey. The ar
ticle refers to the days prior to the
coming of farm machinery. which were
the days Of the hoe spade, cradle and
fail. Mr.. Gross mentions the many
different kinds Of farming machinery,
and then he writes:
1.-THE man with the hoe could be
hired for SO a month; later he received
$40 month, but as machinery came
into use labor became more skilled
and wages increased To produce
bushel of wheat by hand required
three hours and three minutes. but
with machinery it can be done in less
than ten minutes Besides this, the
quality of grain has been improved by
the use of machinery for the seed
may be planted in proper season, thus
giving the full-Iength growing period.
In early days much grain was harvest
ed green, resulting in shriveled grain
of poor quality.
1.-THE cutting and curing of ton of
hay used to take IL hours Of man la
Dor; nov 1t requires about an hour
and half.
Machinery has increased also the
production per capita in this country.
In 1850, 5.43 bushels of wheat per cap
ita were produced. In 1900, produc-
tion had reached 8.66 bushels per
capita.
Workers Released to Cities.
while machinery was saving time
and increasing production per capita it
was also releasing people from the
farms to work in the cities. In 1900
probably 81 per cent of the population
Of the country was on farms; by 1900
this was reduced to 81 per cent, and
now some estimate-thut only 10 per
cent are actually engaged in the pro-
ducti0n Of food, though there may be
a slightly higher per cent LIKING IN
farms. All this indicates the re: n
dous influence farm machinei% has
had upon civilization. Probably cat
over a million Indians lived on ne
North American continent. yei i
times they were in want Of food Nas
the United States alone supps
population of 110,000,0O0 and is
food-exporting nation"
The State college of New Jersey of
fers to students an opportunity to
study farm machinery in practical
way which is explained by Professor
Gross in this fashion,:
This work consists of a study of
the principles of construction and OPP
Grafton of the common farm machines.
A textbook is used, but the machines
/ themselves are found in the laboratory
and careful examinations are made Of
i'll adjustments. The student farmer
learns that a chilled pillow is better In
sandy soil, but that a soft-center steel
plow is better In heavier soil. He COM
pares various makes OF plows with
view to selecting the one he would
purchase.
Unfortunately, schools and colleges
must do most of their work during the
winter season when field work is at a
minimum. However, in fall and spring
opportunity is afforded to see field op-
erations. Many laboratory operations
Illustrate field conditions. Thus the
knotter of the binder may be studied
almost as we'll as under field condl-
tons. Straw may be fed into the ma
chine and bundles tied so that causes
for failure to tie the knot may be OBJ
served and the remedy be applied. In
this way proper adjusting is taught.
Leaves College Prepared.
"This same general plan is carried
out for all farm machines studied. 1t
Is always kept In mind that the first
essential is the thorough mastery of
the underlying principles of mechanics
which govern the work of the machine.
The student leaves the college under
standing these principles and there
fore becomes a skillful operator
MANY farm boys are not fortunate
enough to take a four-year course at
college. To meet the practical prob
lens Of such farm boys short courses
are offered each winter at the State
college, New Brunswick Here the
farm boys gather from all parts Of the
state and study crops and animals.
They also receive training in the oper-
alton and care Of farm machines.
students who take such course
will not do as Farmer John did. He, hav-
ing been induced by the wideawake
salesman to buy a new pillow and dis
card the old, was found few days
later again using the old pillow. The
salesman seeing this called: Good
morning, John; how's the new plowY
The snappy answer was: No good.
This one does better work. After
some argument, Mr.. Salesman induced
John to hitch on the new pillow again
and give it another chance. The new
/ plow was of the same make as the old,
but being improved 1t had adjust
ments not possessed by the old. John
was competent to handle the old, but
had not attempted the adjustment of