Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24

TOXIC. - Agriculture is becoming
mechanical rapidly and the use OF me
chanieal power on the farm marks as
tinctly the beginning of an engineering
epoch, said Prof. H. D. Walker OF DAVIS
Calf, addressing the first worlds engi-.
neering congress here on the subject OF
Engineering as Applied to Agriculture.
Prof. Walker. head of the agricultural
engineering division of the University
Of california, is representing the uni
versity and the American Society OF Ag-
ricultural Engineers at the congress.
Engineering in agriculture relates to
| the engineering problems OF an 1nous.
| try" said Prof. Walker. In this respect
it is similar to mining engineering. eut
| in practice it must differ, since the basic
sciences in agriculture are large 6io-
| logical. For this reason an appreela-
ton by the engineer of the Importance
of the biological sciences Is essential.
Move Gains Impetus.
ENGINEERING in agriculture has at
| tanned great impetus in the Unlteo
states through the extensive use Of me-
| chanicaI power. This has Influenced
| the urban and rural population ratios.
In Colonial days more than 30 per cent
of the people were directly dependent
upon agriculture, in contrast to "a per
cent today.
"There have been three distinct power
epochs in the agriculture of this Ma
| ton, viz. human, animal and mechanl-
| cal The first was characterized 6y
hard work and little social progress Tor
| the worker. The second marked the BE-
ginning of the machinery age IN egfl-
culture, resulting in the breaking Gown
Of traditions and the beginning OF sci-
entific agriculture. the tni1d Petlou'
Just beginning, is exertinE 2 great IN
| fiuence on production naethoos, % Vel
as on the social environments OF the
worker. It is distinctly an engineering
epoch. -.
application in the United States ABOUT
1918. The rate of decrease In sueh
power is rapid, amounting to pHaeti'
cally 100000 animals year.
Agriculture is becoming mecnanlteo
rapidly. Statistics in the United states
show that in 1894 10000, Ooo, 900 horse
power hours were used by farmers. liz
per cent of which was supplied by steam
and gas tractors. In 1928, 5000, 00O'OOU
horsepower hours were utilized, 2S pei
cent of which was supplied by steaem
and gas tractors. The total number OF
farm tractors in 1924 was $4,000. m
crasing to 768.52s in 1898. Simnar
trends In agricultural power are taking
1
and British South Africa.
Fostered by Big Colleges.
Agricultural engineering is fosterec
by land grant institutions. Ihlrty'
seven of forty-eight agricultural colleges
in the United States provide agrlcui'
tural engineering training to 5000 agrl
cultural students annually. TechnIca
engineers for this field are trained II
II of these institutions. Research Worl
in this field is conducted by los Iull'
time workers in 81 institutions.
THE general acceptance OF mecnanl
cal power by farmers has stimulated
new ideas In equipment design, such a!
automatic operations. Trends In trac
tor design show greater fuel economy
less weight horsepower, greater nelG
speeds and greater efhciency to trans
mission of power. Diesel engine trac
tors are gaining recognition.
Mechanical equipment has reduce'
the pre-harvest labor requirements 10
cotton production from rs man hour
to 10 man hours an acre. Similar say
inps are shown for corn and SINAI
grains.
engineers experience trouble In get
ting agricultural machinery require
ments expressed in tangible values use
full in design. Tillage, which consume
from rs to 40 per cent Of all agrieul
tural power, cannot as yet be efectiVel
measured or expressed in engineerin
terms or values.
1.-THE application OF electricity Y
agriculture has opened up new eng