POWER

S 675

I5b4

1915

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FARM

Second Edition

Copyrighted 1915

International Harvester Company of America

(Incorporated)

CHICAGO USA

Complete Index

•vs-ill be found

on Pages 94 and 95

arr^

HERE is no truth until the facts are put in order."
Although no farm has ever existed without power, either
animal or mechanical, no systematic attempt has so far
been made to collect and classify the facts about farm power so
that any farmer could use the information intelligently in study-
ing this very important point. Much farm power literature has
recently been issued which has centered generally around the
experiences of individual farmers. A great deal of tractor litera-
ture also has been written from the point of view of the salesman
rather than from the view of the man who would some day use
the tractor. Both of these points of view are more or less mis-
leading to the man who is looking for rehable information that
will help him solve his power problems.

The Government has done some very thorough work in the
collection of facts concerning certain phases of the horse's useful-
ness, and state experiment stations and agricultural colleges also
have issued bulletins and figures on this same subject and on tractor
use. These and the office and field records to which we have had
access are the sources of information for the facts compiled and
classified in this book. The result, we honestly believe, is an
absolutely fair and impartial presentation of the truth concerning
farm power as furnished on the one hand by horses and on the
other hand by farm tractors.

In a matter so important as the changing of farm power
from horses to a tractor basis, no man should make a decision
without having gone carefully and fully over all the available
evidence on both sides. So much of the evidence that has thus
far come to our attention has been misleading and incomplete
that we have deemed it our duty to present in this book all the
available facts in the case. We offer it in the hope that it will
have some real value to the thousands of farmers who we know
are deeply interested in this vital phase of agriculture.

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY OF AMERICA

(Incorporated)

Farmers Must Meet Changing
Conditions

The proportion of food producers to food consumers grows
smaller constantly. In 1880, according to the Government
Census, 70.5 per cent of the population of the United States
was on the farm, or in towns of less than 2,500. Ten years
later, the rural population was 63.9 per cent, or not quite two-
thirds of the whole. This decrease continued steadily until in
1910, when, according to the last available figures, the percent-
age of people living in towns of 2,500 or less, was 53.7 per cent, or
just a little more than half the total population.

The figures just given are based on a total rural popula-
tion of over 49,000,000. Of this number of people only about
one-eighth, or 6,000,000, are classified as farmers. This means
that six million farmers are now producing food for one hundred
million people, the present total population of our country.
Compare this to the condition about a century ago, when almost
the entire population, scarcely larger than the present number of
farmers, was engaged in the production of foodstuffs.

Machine efficiency is largely responsible for this change.
Machine efficiency, and that alone, has enabled a comparatively
small percentage of the population to feed the remainder.

With land doubling in value and the insistent call for food
from the cities, horses at SI 50 to $300 apiece, and with farm
labor securing from $40 to ?50 a month, the farmer must be on
the job all the time. His land must produce crops, his stock
must produce profits, his w^ork must be planned and handled
on schedule.

As we shall see, his most perplexing problem is that
of power, for almost half his total production expense
centers around his horses and their upkeep. The day has
come when he must supplant horse power. He must substitute
a highly organized, highly efficient form of motive and tractive
power for that part of the horse form of energy which has grown
too expensive to be profitable.

The magnitude of this power problem is astonishing. When
we think of the wonderful industrial growth of this country with
its vast manufacturing enterprises, we but vaguely realize the
enormous amount of power rccjuired; and yd, according to

FARM POWLR

Phillip S. Rose, editor of The American Threshcrman, the farms
of this country require more power than that employed in
all our vast manufacturing industries. Mr. Kose proves this
statement in the following analysis:

"The last Gov(Tnmcnt ccnniis of 1010 showod that there were a total of
24,042,882 horses and niul-s (Mi the farnis of the Uniied States. Estimates
of the Department of Ati;riculiure, on January 1, 1914, placed the number at
25,411,000. If we assume that 80 per c(nt. of these animals are mature,
there are now available for farm-work purposes 20,328,800 work-animals.
On the basis that each animal will develop an average of seven-tenths of a
horse-power, we find that the total available animal-power amounts to
14,230,000 horse-power expressed in mechanical units, or almost exactly
three fourths as nmch power as was employed in all branches of manu-
facturing as shown by the 1910 census."

In addition to the power furnished by the horses and mules,
the farmer has available mechanical power as supplied by steam
engines, internal combustion tractors and engines, windmills,
and water power. Very little water power is utilized, and wind-
mill power is not large enough for most work. This leaves only
steam engines and internal combustion engines using oil or
gasoline, regarding which Mr. Rose says:

"A careful canvass of the States west of the Mississippi made last winter by
Mr. A. P. Yerkes, a Government ag(^nt connected with the Bureau of Farm
Management of the United States Department of Agriculture, shows that
there are something like thirteen thousand tractors in operation. There are
probably not to exceed one-quarter as many east of the river, making some-
thing less than 20,000 tractors in use in the entire country. These tractors
vary greatly in size, but will doubtless average close to forty brake horse-
power each."

Steam engines have long been used as a threshing power, and
there are not far from 100,000 in use today. There are also in
use probably a million portable and stationary gas and oil engines
averaging 5 horse-power. The summary, then, of all the power
used on the farms, according to Mr. Rose, is* as follows:

Total
Kind of Power Number Power

Horses and mules 25,411,000 14,230,000

Windmills 750,000 75,000

Steam-tractors 100,000 4,000,000

Gas-tractors 20,000 600,000

Gas-engines 1,000,000 5,000,000

23,905,000

"The total power used in all manufacturing enterprises, accord-
ing to the 1910 census, was 18,755,286 horse-power. Even allowing a
large margin for possible error, it is thus seen that the farmer's
pow^er - problem is a big one and involves millions of dollars.
Mechanical power, as yet, is much smaller in amount than animal-
power, but it is rapidly increasing, and within a few years will
doubtless assume first place."

FARM POWER

PART I

PRICES OF LAND, LABOR AND POWER ARE THE DE-
TERMINING FACTORS IN CROP PRODUCTION

1. Farm Land is so High in Value that only the Most
Efficient Handling can make it Profitable

From 1900 to 1910 the average value of farm land prac-
tically doubled, according to the United States Census
Reports. This is natural, for our constantly increasing popu-
lation calls for more food; crop prices advance, and land be-
comes more valuable. But it requires the most efficient men,
methods, and machines to derive a satisfactory profit from
land of even average value.

2. Farm Labor Increasing in Cost

When farming was less complicated, manual labor was
cheap. "$20.00 a month and keep" was formerly an accept-
able wage.

But today wages of from $40 to $50 a month and the use
of a tenant house put the farm on practically the running
basis of a factory.

Though not overpaid, hired help is too big an expense in
proportion to what it produces, especially on farms where the
character of the operations are not arranged to keep help
busy during the maximum time. December, January, Feb-
ruary and March are inactive periods, with help more plenti-
ful, because many farmers release their men at the end of the
season. From April to October the demand is brisk, help
scarce and wages high. The principal cause for the high
wages asked is the fact that men are in demand in all industrial
centers at good wages. The automobile industry which has
developed in the past 15 years alone employs more than half
a million men. Other industries have made additional calls

FARM POWER

for men, which has started a movement cityward at the
expense of the farmer. To get men and keep them he must
offer the same wages that these men could obtain in the cities.
The State of lUinois paid out for hired help in the year
1909, according to the last census, more than S.36,300,000.
This was an increase over the preceding decade of nearly
64 per cent. The sum which Michigan paid was an increase
of 34 per cent, and for Ohio the increase was 77 per cent.

Price of Horses for Farm Work Higher Each Year

From 1895 to 1915 the increase in the number of horses
in the United States was 33.3 per cent, while the increase
in the value of these horses was 279.7 per cent. Prices
advanced to such an extent that even with an increase of
only 5,301,700 in the number of horses their value increased
$1,613,372,000. We quote below the figures from the Census
Bureau of the Department of Agriculture — ■

Year Horses Value

(not including mules)

1915 21,195,000 $2,190,102,000

1895 15,893,300 576,730,000

Increase 5,301,700 $1,613,372,000

Per Cent Increase, 33 3^.

The actual average price increase for all horses was from
$36.20 in 1895 to $93.51 in 1906, and to $103.33 in 1915, a
gain of 185 per cent. Horses suitable for farm work
now average from $150 to $250 apiece, according to the
Chicago Live Stock World.

These figures correspond closely with reports received from
farmers, shown in tabulated form on pages 26 and 27. The
average of almost one hundred farm owners reporting shows
that the average price of horses replaced by an 8-16 tractor
was $158. In the majority of instances the reports indicated
that farmers ahvays sold the poorer horses, keeping the better
ones. This average price of $158 is what owners actually
received for horses sold during the last six months of this year.

FARM POWER

PART II
HORSES AS FARM MOTIVE POWER

4. Horse Labor is almost Half the Gross Operating Expense
of the Ordinary Farm

We have become so used to seeing horses, reading of
them, and thinking of them as a motive power for farm
work, that we are inclined to question the statement that
they can be dispensed with to great advantage. Senti-
ment, in a way, is responsible. The horse is an intelligent
animal, and constant contact with him has prejudiced us
against a cold blooded analysis of his usefulness, and yet the
figures we shall give were prepared by unprejudiced men paid
by the Government to help the man on the farm reduce his
expenses and increase his production.

The figures are startling. According to Extension
Bulletin No. 15 issued by the Minnesota Farmers'
Library, almost half of the gross cost of operating an
ordinary diversified farm is made up of horse labor.
In spite of this, many farmers seldom consider the main-
tenance cost of their horses when they are attempting to
arrive at some understanding of what it costs them to produce
their crops.

5. Many Items Enter into the Cost of Horse Labor

Fortunately the United States Government some years

ago made very accurate investigations into the cost of horse

labor on farms. Experts who knew their business kept

accurate record of the various cost items with a result that

the Government is able to tell us how much horse labor costs

per hour. The items which the Government took into

consideration are the following:

Interest on Investment

Depreciation of Horse

Use and Depreciation of Harness

Shoeing

Feed

Labor

Shelter

Miscellanious Expense

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FARM POWER

6. Interest Charges

This is one item of cost which is not always considered
but it rightfully belongs on the cost side. A horse at the
average value of $150 costs his owner at least $7.50 or $9.00
a year on interest charges, depending on whether the interest
is figured at 5 or 6 per cent.

7. Horse Depreciation

It is difficult to state the average life of a farm work
horse. We are safe in assuming it to be from 10 to 15 years.
On this basis there will be an annual depreciation on $150
horses of from $12 to $15. Some farmers might not think it
necessary to include this, especially those who decrease these
charges by the use of young horses, selling them when they
become more valuable. Good horse traders also keep this
charge down. It doesn't in any way, however, affect the
general fact that the horse depreciates as it gets older.

Wayne Dinsmore, Secretary of the Percheron Society
of America, says — ''Work horses increase in value until they
are six years of age. Depreciation begins at that time.
Rapidity of depreciation depends entirely upon the class of
horses and the manner in which they are handled. Pure
bred animals frequently increase in value until they are nine
or ten years old, but depreciation usually begins at six
years and amounts to about ten per cent a year.*'

8. Harness Use and Depreciation

Horses cannot work without harness. Harness costs
money and it wears out so that it is only natural to include
a cost for its use and depreciation. This, together with
repairs and interest, averages from $1.50 to $2.50 per horse
annually.

9. Shoeing Cost

Shoeing is another item that must be taken into account.
It varies greatly in different parts of the country. In Minne-
sota, for instance, where the Government made its investiga-
tions, shoeing costs varied from $1.83 a horse in one section
to 13 cents a horse in another.

FARM POWER

10. Feed is the Heaviest Item in Horse Maintenance

Practically two-thirds of the annual cost of maintaining
a horse is the feed cost. The total feed cost figures for the
country are stupendous. Our 25,000,000* horses and mules
consume feed to the value of almost $2,000,000,000 annually,
or more than the total operating cost of all the 200,000 miles
of railroad of the United States; 73,000,000 tons of hay are
grown, harvested and marketed to feed them.

In determining the annual cost of maintaining a horse, as
shown in the tables which follow, the feed prices w^ere figured
by the Government experts on the basis of market prices less
the cost of transportation from farm to market.

11. Labor Cost

This includes the cost of labor in caring for and feeding
the horse. There is no possible way of getting away from
this charge or even reducing it, as it is an admitted fact that
horses never receive any better care than they are entitled
to; in fact, in the majority of cases they do not receive the
care they should. In U. S. Bull. No. 73, to which we shall
often refer, Table 1 indicates that this item during the period
1904 to 1907 amounted to $16.06 a horse. Since that time
labor has increased 10 per cent.

12. Cost of Sheltering Horses

Shelter is an item which should enter into the cost of
maintaining a horse, but it varies so greatly on different farms
that it has not been taken into consideration by the Govern-
ment in computing its horse maintenance figures. This item
depends entirely upon the capital invested in buildings.
The accepted basis of figuring this is 10 per cent of the amount
invested. This 10 per cent provides for an interest on the
investment, depreciation and repairs. Thus a barn which
cost $40 a head sheltered w^ould bring an annual cost of
$4 against each horse. Some barns cost $100 a head
sheltered. This would make the charge against each horse
$10.

*January 1, 1914, estimate Department of Agriculture is 25,411,000.

10 FARM POWER

13. Miscellaneous Expenses

The miscellaneous expenses include veterinary services,
medicines, liniments and many other small items that are
required in the care of a horse. The Government found that
during the years 1908 to 1912 these averaged 54 cents a year
a horse.

14. Yearly Maintenance Cost of Horses from 1904 to 1907
was $79.80. (U. S. Dept. of Agr. Bull. No. 73.)

Table I

Interest on investment $ 4.90

Depreciation 4.84

Harness depreciation 1.55

Shoeing 68

Feed 51.39

Labor (Not inol. drivers' expense. See If 11.). 16.06
Miscellaneous 38

Total $79.80

15. From 1908 to 1912 the Yearly Maintenance Cost was
$96.21. (Ext. Bull. Nc. 15, Minn. Farmers^ Lib.)

Table II

Interest on investment $ 6.73

Depreciation 2.54*

Harness depreciation 2.30

Shoeing 80

Feed 65.72

Labor (Not incl. drivers' expense. See ^ 11.). 17.58
Miscellaneous 54

Total $96.21

♦Note this item of depreciation is too low — due to abnormal conditions exist-
ing in the horae market where tests were made.

16. The Maintenance Cost for 1914 was $129.23

The prices of horses, feed, labor, in fact, almost every-
thing, has gone up since 1912. In order to determine what
it cost to maintain a horse during 1914, figure first the
difference in feed cost. From 1908 to 1912, as we have
just shown, feed cost an average of $65.72 annually. Uncle
Sam says that this was the cost of feeding 4,686 pounds of
grain and 6,346 pounds of hay. What did this feed cost in

FARM POWER 11

1914? (The ])ri('(' ii^urcs oi" luiy and grain (juotcd are taken

from U. S. Farmers' Bulletin No. 045.)

3 tons of hav at $11.12 $33.30

53 bu. of oats at .43 22.79

53 bu. of corn at .03 33.39

Total Feed 1914 $89.54

The item of depreeiation, $2.54, in Ta])le 2 is not high
enough. The depreciation in this case has been affected by
abnormal conditions prevailing in the territory where the
tests were made. In these horse markets the prices of horses
have jumped rapidly enough to offset depreciation which has
accrued. A fair figure for depreciation would be from $10.00
to $15.00 annually. Let us say the smaller figure — $10.00.

Assume that interest, harness depreciation, shoeing and
miscellaneous expenses are the same. Labor since 1912 has
increased ten per cent, so that the labor cost now is $19.33.
The yearly maintenance cost for 1914 will be as follows:

Table III

Interest on investment $ 0.72

Depreciation 10.00

Harness depreciation 2.30

Shoeing 80

Feed 89.54

Labor (Not incl. drivers' expense. See ^ 11.). 19.33
Miscellaneous .54

Total $129.23

The maintenance cost for 1914 therefore is $129.23.
For the sake of easy figuring hereafter, we shall assume the
expense to be $125.00 annually.

This cost is verified by a test made by a Division of Farm IVlanagement
during the past summer on thirty farms in Catawba County, West North
Carolina. On these farms were ninety-two horses and forty-five mules and
the average cost per animal for a year was $125.60.

_ MISCELLANEOUS, SHOEING, ETC. 2%
_ HARNESS 2%

INTEREST 5%

DEPRECIATION 8%

LABOR 15%

FEED 68^'

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Chart 1. Hotse maintenence costs in percentages

12 FARM POWER

17. A Horse Works only Three Hours Per Day

The average number of hours worked per day by each
horse as determined by a six-year test — 1902 to 1907, inclusive,
was 3.15 hours. Counting 313 days in the year, omitting
Sundays, indicates that a horse averages 985 hours per
year. Let us say 1,000.

Very few men could make a living working so short a
time — only 3 hours a day.

18. Horse Labor Now Costs 12.5 Cents Per Hour

How much does horse labor cost an hour? This cost
is determined by dividing the average annual cost of main-
tenance by the average number of hours each horse works.
Fortunately, the Government kept an accurate check on this
when it made the tests referred to on the preceding pages
with this result.

From 1902 to 1907 the annual cost of maintenance was
$80.00, so that horse labor an hour cost 8 cents. From 1908
to 1912 it was $96.00, or 9.6 cents an hour. For 1914 it was
$125.00, or 12.5 cents an hour. (Table III, Page 11.)

Mr. Fred R. Taylor of Warren County, 111., has kept
accurate records during the past three years and he finds that
the average cost an hour of horse labor during 1914 was 13.6
cents.

19. It Requires the Products of Five Average Acres to Feed
a Horse

Uncle Sam says that the horse eats annually three tons
of hay. The U. S. Census Report for 1910 says that the
average crop is 1.3 tons per acre, so that at this rate it will
require 2.3 acres of hay. Uncle Sam also says 4,686 pounds of
grain are fed annually, let us say half oats and half corn.
This would be 53 bushels of oats and 53 bushels of corn.
The average oat yield is 28.6 bushels and the corn yield
26 bushels per acre, so the horse requires 2 acres of corn
land and 1.8 acres of oat land, or a total of 6.1 acres. To
make these figures as favorable as possible to the horse, let
us say that he eats annually the products of only 5 acres.

FARM POWEF^

In 1914 there were 2"). 000, 000 horses and mules on our farms,
and these require the products of at least 120,000,000
acres to feed them.

20. One-Fourth of all Tilled Land Farmed for Horse Feed

Now, there are only 478,000,000 acres of improved land
in the 6,361,000 farms in this country, therefore, to feed our
horses and mules we use 25 per cent of all our productive
land (U. S. Census Report 1910). Think of the waste! One
acre out of every four under cultivation is farmed for the
benefit of horses that give only three hours' work a day.

We seldom realize how many acres we are cultivating
for horse feed, but we even more seldom think of the fact
that one-fourth of our entire investment in farm equipment,
in buildings, and in land must be charged up against the cost
of horse maintenance.

Could we take this 120,000,000 acres of land now used
to feed the horses and mules, and raise crops for the world's
population, we might double our corn crop, the biggest
money-maker we have, and also add 50 per cent to our
wheat yield.

21. Every Farm has from One to Three Unnecessary Horses

Uncle Sam in Bulletin No. 73 says this: **0n many
farms from one to three unnecessary horses are kept
mainly that they may be available during the few days
when the crops are being harvested."

Minnesota Farmers' Extension Bulletin No. 15 on page 10,

says this:

"UpK)n many farms more horses are kept than are necessary to
perform the work. Frequently this is because the owner does not
realize the annual cost of keeping them; or he retains them for sentimental
reasons. If the working animals so kept were brood mares, raising a foal
each year, this would not be objectionable, as they would bring in some
income. Often they are geldings and there is little excuse for retaining
the extra horses. It is essentially unbusinesslike. Often an extra
horse or two is kept through the year, in comparative idleness, for possi-
ble use in seed time and harvest.

14 FARM POWER

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Illustration 2. Good brood mares bring an income

22. Horse Feed Turned into Butter or Beef Makes a Big
Profit

If there are today from one to three horses more than
necessary on each farm, every farmer could make from $50.00
to $150.00 more by feeding to cows the feed given the un-
necessary horses. If, in addition, a cheaper power than
horseflesh is used, so that additional horses could be disposed
of, a farmer might make from $100.00 to $250.00 more profit
without cultivating any greater acreage.

For example, according to the Iowa Dairy Test Associa-
tion, a test of 1,400,000 Test Association cows showed that
feed for one cow cost $37.00 per year. Each cow returned
217 pounds of butter fat at $0.32, a total of $69.44, showing a
profit of 85 per cent or $32.44. (The skimmed milk and calf
pay for the labor charge.) The $89.54 it costs to feed a horse
one year (Table III, Page 11) would feed two cows, and
these could bring a net profit of $64.88.

In the Pennsylvania State Experiment Station Bulletin
No. 102, it shows that in feeding steers, 100 pounds of gain
cost $9.75 for feed. Then the $89.54 worth of feed consumed
annually by the horse would, if fed to steers, produce almost
a thousand pounds of beef.

The Indiana State Experiment Station in 1913 found
that the cost of feed per hundred pounds gain varied from
$7.74 to $9.34.

It will be readily seen that horse crops if fed to cows
or steers would bring a handsome profit every day,
either in butter fat or beef, whereas, this same feed

FARM POWER 15

given to the horse goes to keep up a head of steam that
is never utilized more than 12 per cent of the time, and
in the case of unnecessary horses is utterly wasted.

23. Four Good Reasons Why Horse Labor is Expensive.

If horse labor is so expensive, we naturally ipquire the
reasons. The principal ones are as follows:

First, because of the horse's low efficiency as a motor.

Second, because of the fact that he is a small power unit
which cannot work in combination with more than three other
units at the most.

Third, because every unit requires man labor to operate
and control it.

Fourth, because the work for which he is adapted is
seasonal, and then in volume far beyond his capacity.

24. The Horse is a Very Lowr Efficiency Motor

The horse eats 10 pounds of feed for every hour that he
works — 10,000 pounds a year. For all this feed he returns
a surprisingly small amount of work at the traces. Seventy
per cent of what he eats is lost somewhere in his mouth,
stomach and intestines. This delivers 30 per cent to his
muscles, which sounds promising until we learn that the
greater part of this must be reserved for his own use — body
maintenance, carrying his weight and propelling himself about
the field. He has left, after he has taken care of himself,
not more than 7 per cent efficiency for actual work.
Edison says his efficiency is only 2 per cent.

In comparison with other prime movers, the horse is
the lowest of all — a triple expansion steam engine has an
efficiency of from 8 to 10 per cent, and a kerosene engine
from 15 to 18 per cent. At best, out of every five acres
of feed, he turns not more than half an acre of it into use-
ful work. What is worse, the most of this is feed that
easily could be put in available form for human sustenance — -
corn cakes, corn flakes, hominy, and rolled oats, or it could be
turned readily into pork, mutton, milk, butter, or beef, and
sold at good prices.

16 FARM POWER

25. Horse Labor Must Always be Used in Small Power Units

In the daj's of the cradle, the sickle and the spade, the
horse was big enough, but today he has been dwarfed by the
big units on every side. This is the day of big things — big
cars, big boats, big engines, big dynamos, big farms, big
elevators, everything in fact is big. Agriculture alone has
attempted to thrive and grow with a power that long ago
proved entirely inadequate for other important work. Man
muscle and horse muscle cannot possibly fill the bill. The
horse at best cannot work with more than three or four other
horses. This is the largest workable unit, so at the most a
farmer does not have over three or four horse power of energy
to put onto any one job. The rate of travel is slow — hardly
over 1.6 miles per hour. When it is faster than this the horses
tire out rapidly, in fact, at this rate they cannot put in more
than ten hours of w^ork in twenty-four with rests and breathing
spells in between. If eight horse power is required on a job,
it means two units of four horses each, or more likely four
two horse teams.

26. Horse Power Requires Expensive Man Labor

It is hardly practical to use more than four horses in a
team. For field work farmers frequently use four horses on
harrows and plows and binders, but when it comes to road
work, rather than use four horses on a load a man divides
up the load and uses two teams, each team requiring a driver.
This is one of the points that makes horse labor so expensive.
Every team, whether it be two, three, or four horses, requires
the service of a driver. On a farm where it is necessary to
put a large number of teams into the field to do the work on
time, this requires a great deal of hired help, more than it
is sometimes possible to obtain.

27. Farm Field Work is Confined to Short, Active Periods

There are practically two seasons on every farm — the
active season and the inactive season. The Government
made very careful investigations and found that during the

FARM POWER

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Chart II — Showing the averago hours of labor per horse per day
by months: (Ext. Bull. No. 15, Minn. Farmers' Lib.)

inactive season, that is, the winter months, the horse seldom
averages more than one hour of work a day. During the
active season, the crop growing period, the work averages
from three hours a day on some farms to as high as eight or
ten on some others.

Note that on grain farms the ''peak load" occurs during
the three months culminating in October; spring work touches
the high pomt in May. During November, December, Janu-
ary and February the work is very light. The diversi-
fied farm, on the other hand, gives steadier employment,
although there are months of very little activity. The
number of horses a farmer keeps are determined by just a few
months' work. Sufficient horses must always be carried
to take care of the work during the most pressing
season with the result that most of the horses are idle
the greater part of the time.

28. Horses Are Seldom at their Greatest Efficiency when
They Should Be

After a winter of idleness in a barn the horses are soft
and not in a condition for the severe strain of spring work.
Yet when spring opens up there is plowing, disking and drag-
ing which must be done on time in o\\\vv to insure maturity
of the crop. Rather than push the h()rs(\s to the limit, the

13 FARM POWER

job, whatever it may be, is slighted or less acreage is put under
cultivation. In either case, there is a direct loss to the farmer.
At harvest time the work is again severe. The sun scorches
and the flies bite. Nevertheless the crops must be harvested
when they are ready. After a season's field work the horses
cannot be in best condition to stand the hard drive and long
hours sometimes necessary to save the crop.

29. How Much Power Does a Horse Deliver

This is a point that is not always clearly understood.
We rate all prime movers in horse power terms, assuming
the power delivered by a horse in one hour to be a standard.
As a matter of fact the power per hour delivered by a horse
is a very uncertain quantity. It depends on its size, mus-
cular development and speed. Experiments indicate that
the horse exerts a pull on its traces equal to one-eighth
to one-tenth of its weight for a working day of ten hours.
The speed at which he is able to do this work for ten hours is
from 1.6 to 2 miles per hour.

30. Definition of a Mechanical Horse Power

Jas. Watt, inventor of the steam engine, concluded from
experiments with heavy English dray horses, that the power
of the average horse was equivalent to 33,000 pounds
raised one foot in one minute. This was adopted as the
standard for measuring power and is known as a me-
chanical horse power. Figuring on this basis, a 1,500-
pound horse traveling at 2J/2 miles per hour and pulHng one-
tenth of its weight would be pulling exactly one mechanical
horse power.

A of 1500 = 150 lbs.

150 X 13200 ft. (2H milos) = 1,980,000 foot pounds in 60 min.

1,980,000^60 = 33,000 lbs. 1 ft. per minute=l Horse Power.

If this horse traveled only 2 miles per hour, he would
deliver four-fifths of a horse power; if he traveled 1.5 miles
per hour, he would deliver three-fifths of a horse power.

FARM POWER

19

Animal power, however, is an elastic power and the
maximum effort which a horse may put forth for a short time
may greatly exceed his own wei<i;ht. In actual test a draft
horse has been proved to exert an effort of about half his
weight while walking at a speed enabling him to develop,
for a short time, from 4 to 5 mechanical horse power. Such
trials, however, are always of short duration and must be
followed by periods of rest.

This elasticity of the power as delivered by the horse
has led to some confusion in comparing the actual horse
power delivered by an animal with the mechanical
horse power delivered by a machine. A machine's
horse power is not elastic. It may be safe to assume,
however, that day in and day out, week after week,
and month after month, a mechanical horse power will
be equivalent to an animal horse power in actual work
performed.

ft^;^^'

Illustration 3

Horses are idle the greater part of the

year

Illustration 4

Horses in the field must have frequent

rests

31. A Summary of Farm
Horse Labor

1. Eats products of 25
per cent of all cultivated land.

2. Works only 3 hours
per day, or 1,000 hours per
year, or 10,000 hours during
its working life.

3. Costs about $125 a
year for maintenance, or 12.5
cents for every hour that it
works.

4. Inactive during four
months of each year.

5. Must be used i n
small units, each unit requir-
ing a driver.

20

FARM POWER

Illustration 5

Horses cannot work in bad weather
but must be cared for just the same

Illustration 6

Horses are tired out before the day is

finished

Illustration 7

Horses must be taken in from the

field and fed and watered

6. Increasing in cost
each year.

7. Subject to disease,
sickness and injury.

8. Duration of his effi-
cient effort Umited to only a
few hours a day. Must have
long periods of rest.

9. Not capable of much
emergency work as in case of
rush harvests.

10. Seriously affected by
climatic changes.

11. Not always a safe
power, Especially in the hands
of a boy.

12. Needs thoughtful
and constant care to insure
proper feeding and good con-
dition.

13. Requires expensive
shelter — so does its feed.

14. A very low efficiency
motor, delivering from 2 to 7
per cent in work.

15. Its continuous work-
ing pull is small, only from
one-eighth to one-tenth of its
weight.

Illustration 8

Horses must be cared for in the

winter. They eat but do not work

I AF^M F*OWEF< 2|

PART III

THE TRACTOR AS A FARM MOTIVE POWER

32. Farmers Must Adopt a Cheaper Power

The problem of a cheaper power for the farm is such a

serious one that not only the United States Department of

Agriculture but many of the State Departments have issued

bulletins emphasizing the necessity of giving this careful

thought. In Bulletin No. 15 issued by the Minnesota

Farmers' Library we find this —

"On the modern farm where business organization and a high
type of skill are required, the cry is for efficiency. This is especially
timely when the costs of production are high and the farm manager must
soon be prepared to investigate in detail the costs of production in order
that economies may be instituted. On most farms the possibihties of
more economic forms of production are apparent. The point of maxi-
mum returns for labor or capital expenditures is still far beyond us.
Upon many farms the first step toward more economic production
must be in cheapening the power used in operating farm imple-
ments. A tremendous loss is possible in the one item of horse labor
alone, and when it is considered that this cost represents about 40 per
cent of the cost of farm operation, its importance may be realized. The
man who handles his horses at a high cost per hour of labor is handi-
capped in every enterprise on his farm in comparison with the man
operating at a low cost. * * * * 'J'\^q cqs^ of horse labor is essen-
tially a business problem for the man who operates his farm by business
methods."

There are several ways of approaching this problem of
horse power expense. It may be possible to change the crop-
ping or rotation system so as to distribute the work for the
horses as evenly as possible through the year. In numerous
instances economies can be affected by decreasing the number
of horses kept. In either instance it may be possible to give
more attention to the question of feeding to reduce this to
the minimum cost without impairing the horses' efficiency.
Any or all of these methods are desirable, and we would urge
every farmer, no matter how many horses he feeds, to put
them into effect.

But the most practical method of reducing this
power cost on the farm is to substitute a cheaper power.

This cheaper power, cheaper in initial cost, cheaper in
maintenance, cheaper in operation, is oil tractor power. The
tractor is the logical outcome of the attempts which have
been made to reduce power costs.

Plowing^ 30 acres a day

Harvesting 100 acres a day

Taking the crop to the elevator

Illustration 9
For years the small farmer lived in hope that some day he, too, could have cheap

oil power to do his work

22

FARM POWER

23

33. Big Farm Tractors were the First to be Developed

The development of the farm tractor has just been the
reverse of the automobile. The first automobiles were small,
light weight affairs — the first tractors were big, powerful and
rather heavy machines. They were of enormous tractive
capacity, and suited to extensive harvesting, seeding, thresh-
ing and hauling operations. Undoubtedly the man with
10,000 acres found the help and power problem more acute
than the small farmer because of the limited time in which
to accomplish his big work. This man eagerly accepted the
large tractor outfit as a solution of his troubles.

On these large grain farms oil tractors accomplish their
purpose. With the tractor plowing, double disking, and seed-
ing 25 acres per day — work that formerly would have taken
one man and a team two weeks to perform — and with a tractor
waiting to harvest, thresh, and haul to market, it is small
wonder that the tractor has taken the place of the horse
on large farms.

Illustration 10

The largest plowing outfit ever assembled — three International Harvester

Mogul Tractors and a 55-Bottom Engine Gang which

plowed an acre in less than four minutes

But how about the man on the small farm? He, in the
meantime, had been left to curry, water and feed, to mend
harness, and use gall cure, in fact, to travel the same monoto-
nous round of horse duties that has ever been the farmer's
lot. He was left to solve his power problem as best he could
until a tractor should be developed with unrestricted applica-

24 FARM POWER

tioii to small farm needs. Of all our six million farms, more
than five million are small farms — 174 acres or less — and
so 80 per cent of all our farmers were kept waiting for
the small farm tractor, a power that would put them on a
par with the big producer.

34. The Small Farm Tractor is now a Reality

The small tractor finally came. From big, heavy
machines with huge belt power and tractive ability have
been developed lighter engines with graceful lines and
capable of delivering a half or more of their rated engine
power at the drawbar, where it takes the place of horses.
Designs have been standardized, unnecessary weight elimi-
nated, mechanism simplified, until now a farmer of 160 acres
can purchase a safe, simple, cheap motive power that will
make a big hole in the producing cost.

^i

. \j

S^SSIS

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Illustration 11
The popular one-man snnall-farnn kerosene-burning tractor

35. Oil Tractor Rating

The terms **brake" or **belt** horse power are used
to denote the total amount of power which the engine
will develop and transmit to a belt for stationary work
such as threshing. This amount of power may be com-
puted or ascertained by actual measurement with proper
apparatus.

The **drawbar'* horse power is the belt power minus
the amount of power required to propel the weight of
the tractor. Most tractors require approximately 50 per cent

FARM POWER 25

of the total power developed by the engine to move their
own weight, leaving the remainder available for pulling other
implements. The amount of power which is actually exerted on
the drawbar varies, of course, with the weight and construc-
tion of the tractor. Tractor ratings are ordinarily expressed
by writing the ''brake" horse power after the "draw-bar'*
horse power, thus 8-16 or 10-20 would indicate a tractor hav-
ing a pull of either 8 or 10 horse power on the drawbar, and
developing 16 or 20 horse power for belt, or stationary, work.

36. The Tractor does not Entirely Supplant the Horse

With all its wonderful utility, we do not assume that the
tractor will entirely supplant the horse. The horse is more
mobile; it can go places a tractor cannot. Some horses will
always have to be kept, especially on corn belt farms,
but in most cases sufficient horses can be sold to pay for
a tractor and still have enough horses on the farms to do
the light jobs. The money that has been spent in horse feed
can be turned into butter, mutton, or pork and the money
invested in huge barns — "horse hotels" — can be turned into
blooded stock, into productive machines, fences, better
roads and more comforts for the home.

37. Good Horses will Always be in Demand

This is what Chas. E. Snyder, Assistant Editor of the

National Stockman and Farmer says:

'' If every farmer owned an oil tractor, as he will some day just as he
owns a binder now, we would still have room for more good horses. The
general adoption of oil power is not going to drive the horse out of the
country nor take the possibility for profit out of him. No one who under-
stands agricultural conditions expects any such thing to happen. When
steam power replaced the horses used to drive the old-time threshers
many felt that the horse industry was going to be hurt badly. It was
not. There is endless work for the horse that can do it well and always
j will be. We have altogether too many of the kind of horses that fill no

j market demand. They are the result of crossing, indiscriminate breeding

i — the little pacing mare to the grade drafter, the chunky mare to the

j crooked-legged spavined little trotter, etc. — the product a non-descript

; of the dunghill typo that nobody wants. If the oil tractor will put this

i kind of horse out of business— and it will — we shall all be better off.

I The misfit horse never made his grower any money, anyhow. Let us

I breed straight and let us breed the best, sound, pure-bred or high-grade

I mares to pure-bred stallions of their kind. The offspring will always be

\ needed and bring good prices. But at the same time we need the cheap

and efficient power that oil or kerosene will furnish us to supplement our
good horses. It is the only money-winning, sensible, business-like plan
to follow — more good horses, fewer bad horses, and more farm
tractors."

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28

FARM POWER

39. How Many Horses can be Sold from the Average Farm?

This is always a perplexing question, and can only be
answered in a general way. Substitute oil power for ani-
mal power where the time saved and the increased
amount of work done will result in a profit. Sell all but
enough horses to do the light work. Keep preferably
brood mares that will help pay for their keep in the colts
they produce. Some farmers maintain that a tractor would
pay for itself even if all the horses were retained. We do not
think this is wise economy. Unnecessary horses should be
sold, and in addition, others the tractor will replace also
should be disposed of.

A concrete illustration, with an average 160 acre farm
as a basis, has been very carefully analyzed below. This
analysis shows the number of days of field work the horses
do, the amount it costs, the work the tractor can do, and the
number of horses it w^ill replace.

40. Field Work with Horses on 160 Acre Farm

According to the U. S. Census Report, an average Illinois

diversified farm of 160 acres would be approximately as

follows:

50 acres of corn,

30 acres of oats and wheat.

20 acres of hay,

60 acres of rough land, pasture, orchard, building and feed lots.

This average farm supports six work horses or mules and
one colt. Let us see how many days' work Avith horses are
required to seed and harvest these crops.

Illustration IZ

1 he average 160-acre tori, ti. ii
Work horses and one colt

upports SIX

29

30 FARM POWER

40. Field Work with Horses on a 160-Acre Farm (Continued)

(Figures of work done per day are taken from reports
submitted by Central States farmers.)

TABLE V

50 Acres of Corn Land

Plowing — 4 horscs-16" gang 4 acres per day 123^ days

Disking — 4 horses-8' disk harrow 15 acres per day 3^4 days

Harrowing — (3 times) 3 horses, 3 sec. bar . 30 acres per day 5 days

PLanting — 2 horses-check row planter 12^ acres per day 4 days

Cultivating— (4 times) 2 horses, 1 row cult. 10 acres per day 20 days

Harvesting — 3 horses, corn binder 8 acres per day 6}4 days

Total 51.08 days or 1450.5 H. P. hrs.

30 Acres of Wheat and Oats

Disking twice — 4 horses, 8' harrow 15 acres per day 4 days

Harrowing — 3 horses, 3 sec. harrow 30 acres per day 1 day

Drilling — 3 horses 12 x 8 drill 15 acres per day 2 days

Harvesting — 4 horses, 8' binder 15 acres per day 2 days

Total 9 days or 330 H. P. hrs.

20 Acres of Hay

Mowing — 2 horses, 5' mower 10 acres per day 2 days

Raking — 2 horses, 8' side del. rake 15 acres per day 13^ days

Loading — 2 horses, 6' loader 10 acres per day 2 days

Total 5}/^ days or 110 H. P. hrs.

The total horse power hours of field work required for
these three crops is 1890.5 At 12.5 cents an hour the horse
cost is $236.30. This does not include any expense for
man labor.

41. Field Work with an Oil Tractor on a 160 Acre Farm

Let us suppose that this farmer sold four horses at an
average price of $150. (See paragraph 3 for prices of farm
work horses.) These four horses should bring $600.00,
almost enough to buy a kerosene-burning tractor rated at
16 horse power on the belt and 8 horse power on the drawbar.
What would the same work cost when done by this tractor?
In the first place, the tractor will do all of the operations
mentioned above with the exception of planting and cul-
tivating the corn, and perhaps operating the side dehvery
rake, and for this work and other light horse jobs we have
kept two horses and the colt. (Figures based on 10-hour day.)

FIELD WORK WITH HORSES ON A 160-ACRE FARM

Illustration 14

Plowing

Disking

Harrowing

Seeding

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Loading

Harvesting grain

Corn harvesting

31

32 FARM POWER

TABLE VI

50 Acres of Corn Land

Plowing — 8-16 tractor and two 14" plows, 5.6 acres per day. ... 9 days

[If pulling three 14" inch plows, 8.4 acres per day, 6 days]
Disking and harrowing in one operation:

8-16 tractor — S' disk harrow with 2-sec. peg, 20 acres

per day 2)4. days

Harrowing twice — 8-16 tractor with 3 sec. harrow, 35 acres

per day 3 days

Planting — Use the team and planter.
Cultivating — Use the team and cultivator.

Harvesting — 8-16 tractor and corn binder, 8 acres per dav .... 6J^ days
Total " 203^ days

30 Acres of Oats and Wheat

Double disking and harrowing in one operation:

8-16 tractor with 8' tandem harrow and 2-sec. peg, 20

acres per day 1 H days

Drilling — 8-16 tractor with 12x8 drill, 20 acres per day \}/2 days

Har^-esting — 8-16 tractor with 8' binder, 20 acres per day. ... 13^ davs
Total 43^ days

20 Acres of Hay-
Mowing — 8-16 tractor with two 5' mowers, 20 acres-per day. . 1 day
Raking — With 2-horse team.

Loading — 8-16 tractor with windrow loader, 13 acres per day. . 1 H <^ays
Total 2y2 days

Here is 27^/4 days^ work with a tractor which will require
15 to 20 gallons of low grade kerosene at 7.7 cents per gallon,
and one gallon of lubricating oil at 35 cents — total fuel per
day SI. 89. (See Note.) Adding to this a liberal amount for
depreciation and repairs, interest at six per cent, and a
day's operation (counting 100 daj's' work per year) will cost
about S4.00, total for 27^ days is $111.00. The horse labor
for planting, cultivating and raking amounts to $63.75,
which added to $111.00 makes a total of $174.75— or— the
tractor does for $111.00 work which, when done with horses,
costs $172.55. There is a clear saving of $61.55, and the
crops were put in in 123^3 days less time.

This, however, does not indicate the difference in profit
in handling the job with a tractor rather than w^ith horses.
Selling four horses leaves the farmer with $375.00 worth of
feed to put into butterfat or beef. This amount will keep
ten cows, which can return a net profit of $324.00 (see
paragraph 22). Take out of this $324.00 profit, the $111 .00
which it costs to operate the tractor, and there is still left

Note: These are January, 1016, average prices — kerosene 7.7 centSj
ga-ioline 16.0 cents. The cost in any particular territory may be oljtainecl
by using local prices.

FIELD WORK WITH AN OIL TRACTOR ON A
160-ACRE FARM

Illustration 15

Plowing

Disking and Smoothing

Harrowing

Seeding

Mowing

Loading hay

Corn Harvesting

Grain Harvesting

33

34 FARM POWER

a not profit of $213.00 a year in cash, and a saving of
12} 3 days of man labor.

Farm lai)or is worth at least $1.50 per day including
l)oard. Here is a saving of $18.50, a total of $231.50 for the
year not including the saving in belt work.

Add to this the profit which can be made by having avail-
able belt power at about 2 cents per horse power hour for
all the miscellaneous work that comes about almost every
day in the year, and it is a]:)parent that a good tractor burn-
ing kerosene could pay for itself long before it is worn out.

42. With a Tractor the Work can be done in Season

The saving of I23/3 days of labor which were fig-
ured at $1.50 per day can be made far more profitable. On any
farm, even with ample horses to take care of the work, seasons
are sometimes against the farmer. Good spring plowing or
seeding weather may be of short duration, with a result that
not all the acreage planted is cultivated. Again, a day gained
in the harvest is oftentimes of far greater importance than
$1.50 in la])or saved. With a tractor on the job you can work
twenty-four hours a day if necessary to take advantage
of the weather. Besides this, the days gained may give the
farmer an opportunity to do work for the neighbors at a good
profit. A member of the United States Department of Agri-
culture recently stated in a speech that he regarded this side
of the tractor business the most important. In his opinion
farmers lose millions of dollars annually because their
plowing, tilling and threshing cannot be done just
when it should. There is a right time for every work and
a tractor enables the farmer to take up this work in its order,
to complete it in a short time, and do everything in its proper
season.

BELT WORK WITH AN OIL TRACTOR ON A
160-ACRE FARM

Illustration 16

Husking and Shredding

Filling the silo

Grinding feed

Threshing

Baling hay

Pumping water

35

36 FARM POWER

PART IV
ADVANTAGES OF KEROSENE-BURNING TRACTORS
43. Tractor Horse Power versus Animal Horse Power

In Bulletin ISo. 174, United States Department of
Agriculture, issued April 15, 1915, appears this — "The term
horse power denotes an amount of power equivalent to that
developed by a 1,500 pound horse moving at the rate of 2H
miles per hour, and exerting a pull equal to one-tenth of his
own weight, or 150 pounds. This represents a power output
capable of raising a weight of 33,000 pounds to a height of
one foot in one minute, and these figures are commonly used
in computing the power developed by an engine. A pull
equal to one-tenth of his weight is considered a normal load
for a horse. As most farm horses w^igh less than 1,500
pounds, it is apparent that they do not ordinarily furnish
full horse power. Thus an engine delivering 20 horse
power at the drawbar would be exerting a stronger pull
than twenty horses (averaging less than 1,500 pounds in
weight) normally do hour after hour. It should be borne
in mind, however, that the engine is capable of delivering
at the drawbar in an emergency but a fraction in excess of its
rating of 20 horse power, while twenty average horses are able
for a short time to pull several times their normal load, that
is, the engine must be overloaded to deliver 25 horse power,
while the twenty horses can be so urged as to deliver 30, 40,
60 or more horse power for very short periods of time."

A tractor rated at 8-16, that is, 8 at the drawbar and 16
on the belt, will, according to the figures above, exert as
strong a pull at the drawbar as eight average horses normally
do hour after hour and week after week. A man who pur-
chases a tractor of this size sometimes expects it to go out
and do just as much work at a day's plowing as could eight
horses. As a matter of fact, these eight horses may be doing
16 horse power work for a very short time. The real test is,
how much work can these eight horses deliver day after day,
week in and week out? In a test of this kind eight horses
will not deliver more than 8 horse power, consequently a

FARM POWER 37

t met or with a rating of 8 horse power at the drawbar should
be considered the equal of eight average farm horses.

44. What is th6 Difference Between Kerosene and Gasoline?

To the user or prospective user of an internal combustion
engine, there is only one difference of any importance between
kerosene and gasoline — the price.

Gasoline and kerosene, with benzine, naphtha, distillate,
and lubricating oils, are all obtained by distillation from one
product — crude oil. Until recently, from 4 to 10 per cent
of gasoline and from 44 to 50 per cent of kerosene were ob-
tained. This small quantity of gasoline, compared with the
large amount of kerosene, naturally made gasoline more
expensive. Along came the automobile designed to utilize
nothing but gasoline, and up went the price of this fuel. Oil
refiners immediately turned their attention to getting larger
quantities of gasoline, and today, by a new method of dis-
tillation, they can obtain as high as 30 per cent of this fuel
and 30 per cent of kerosene. This increase in the production
of gasoline has not been nearly large enough to supply the
1,500,000 gallons used daily by stationary engines, and the
4,500,000 gallons required daily by the 2,225,000 automobiles
now in use. As a consequence, there is still a big spread in
price, with gasoline from 50 to 100 per cent higher.*

45. Oil Refiners are Facing a Shortage in the Production of
Gasoline

Every indication points to a continued shortage of gaso-
line. The automobile industry is turning out hundreds of
thousands of cars each year, and gasoline engine factories
are adding other hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, the
oil wells are producing less. If the increase in the number of
motor cars and engines and decrease in the oil supply con-
tinues, there can be onh^ one result — a shortage of gaso-
line which might prove serious. An unimpeachable
authority states that the next five years will bring the oil
refiners face to face with a crisis which they will find it difficult
to meet — a demand for gasoline which cannot be furnished
from the supply of crude oil.

* Jauuary 1916 prices show gasoline 119% higher than kerosene

38 FARM POWER

How about kerosene? It is being produced in larger
quantities each year as the production of gasoline increases,
but the demand shows no decided change. There is always
an ample supply, with the result that gasoline averages 67
per cent higher in price, as shown by reports received
from twenty points throughout the country. In a
recent Government Bulletin it is stated that the price
of gasoline is 50 to 100 per cent higher than kerosene.

Reports from farmers themselves shown on pages 26 and 27
indicate a difference of about 5 cents a gallon between kerosene
and gasoline — or gasoline 82 per cent higher than kerosene.

46. Does Gasoline Produce More Power than Kerosene?

The fact that gasoline is more expensive and more easily
evaporated and ignited than kerosene has led many to think
that it produces more power. A gallon of gasoline weighs
6.18 pounds, while a gallon of kerosene weighs 6.8 pounds.
They both contain the same number of heat units per pound,
about 19,000, but as kerosene weighs more per gallon than
gasoline, it contains more heat units.

47. Why Doesn't Every Engine Operate on Kerosene?

There is one very good reason why every motor won't
operate on kerosene— BECAUSE THE BUILDERS OF THE
MOTOR HAVEN'T DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF
HOW TO BURN KEROSENE SUCCESSFULLY. Years
ago the designers of International Harvester tractors turned
their attention to this problem. They saw the handwriting
on the wall — gasoline going up and up. They realized that
if the man on the farm was to have cheap power it must be
kerosene power, not gasoline. These men — the keenest
minds in the inventive field — had ample funds and equipment
at thoir disposal and only one instruction — to design an
engine that would burn kerosene economically and just
as satisfactorily as any other engine will burn gasoline.

AND THEY DID IT. EVERY INTERNATIONAL
HARVESTER OIL TRACTOR WILL BURN KERO-
SENE AND DELIVER THE SAME AMOUNT OF

FARM POWER 39

POWER ON 20 GALLONS OF THIS FUEL TUXT ANY
OTHER ENGINE WILL ON 18 GALLONS OF
GASOLINE^

48. A Kerosene-Burning Tractor Saves Money

This difference in the price of kerosene and gasohne
means a saving which is a whole lot greater than one would
imagine. An engine burning 20 gallons of kerosene a day
at 7.7 cents a gallon, would save its owner $1.50 a day over
the same engine burning 16.9 cent gasoline, assuming
that it burned two gallons more of kerosene than gaso-
line. A hundred days' work on this basis would mean a
saving for the kerosene engine of S150.00, which makes it very
evident that there is no economy in buying a gasoline
engine when a kerosene engine is available.

A farmer contemplating the purchase of an engine
or tractor should make it a point to investigate the
kerosene-burning feature. There are many so-called
kerosene-burning engines on the market. It is possible
for these engines to run on kerosene, but when it comes
to doing actual work, the fuel tank is usually filled
with gasoline.

49. Kerosene is Safer to Handle and Store than Gasoline

There is another point which it is well to consider.
With a kerosene-burning engine on the farm, there is greater
safety than in storing the gasoline needed for most other
tractors. Farmers who use kerosene for lighting purposes
will find it necessary to carry only one tank of oil. This
can be filled very easily whenever the tank wagon comes
around, and every time it is filled there is a saving of 4
cents or more in every gallon of fuel put into it. With kero-
sene instead of gasoline on hand, there is less danger of
violating many of the very strict rules of the insurance com-
panies. Gasohne evaporates easily, while kerosene does not.

Don't take anybody's word that the engine will burn
kerosene satisfactorily, but see it do actual work with this
fuel.

40 FARM POWER

50. What Uncle Sam's Experts Find in Favor of the Kerosene
Tractor

In a recent Bulletin of the Department of Agricul-
ture, which is a very exhaustive treatise on farm experience
with tlie tractor, we find that in all the tests made kerosene
tractors made a better showing than gasoline tractors. To
quote from the Government's own experts —

'Trom the comparison made it will be seen that the
figures were slightly in favor of the kerosene tractor in almost
every case, the most important difference being in the esti-
mated life and the cost of repairs required annually, but the
percentage of replies, days used annually, hours lost, horses
replaced, and percentage finding custom work profitable,
all of which are favorable to the kerosene tractor, are worthy
of note. ***** The hours plowed per acre, the depth
plowed, width of plow and width of harrow are all greater
for the kerosene than for the gasoline tractor. The amount
of fuel consumed is greater for the kerosene tractor, but the
cost is less on account of the lower price per gallon.'^

According to the Government experts, any man who
contemplates buying a tractor will do well to buy a
kerosene rather than a gasoline tractor, because it will
last longer, costs less to keep up, requires less fuel,
and does more work.

51. First Cost of a Tractor is Less than Horses

Assuming that an average farm horse is worth $150, the
first cost of an oil tractor capable of delivering on a continuous
j)ull, day after day, an equal amount of power is considerably
less. For instance, a tractor capable of delivering 8 horse
power at the drawbar will cost about $725, which is at the
rate of about $90 a horse power, just a little over half of the
cost of a horse capable of delivering the same power.

52. The Pulling Capacity of a Tractor is Greater than
that of a Horse

The best authorities agree that the horse is capable of
pulling on a ('()ntinuous pull about one-tenth of his weight.

FARM POWER

41

A 5,000 pound oil tractor, for instance, will pull from 1,500
to 2,000 pounds, which is from one-third to two-fifths of its
weight. It is this greater pulling capacity, in other words,
g ater efficiency, of the tractor which permits it to produce
power at a much lower cost per unit.

Illustration 17. The comparative pull of horses and a tractor

53. How Much does it Cost to Operate a Small Farm Tractor

As an illustration, let us take an 8-16 oil-burning tractor,
which delivers 16 horse power at the belt and 8 horse power
at the drawbar. This engine, in a ten-hour day on a full load,
will consume 15 to 20 gallons of low grade kerosene at 7.7
cents a gallon, worth $1.54. It will also require one gallon
of lubricating oil at 35 cents, a total of $1.89 for fuel and
oil only. (See note bottom of page 32.)

Fuel consumption figures verified by farmers' reports
shown in table IV on pages 26 and 27.

54. A Tractor Horse Power at the Drawbar Costs 3 to 4 Cents
Per Hour

At a fuel cost of $1.89 per day, the tractor delivers a horse
power at the drawbar for about two cents per hour for fuel
only, in striking contrast with 83^ cents, which is the feed
cost for an animal horse power.

If we add to this fuel cost a liberal amount for deprecia-
tion and repairs, and interest at 6 per cent, the cost will be
from 4 to 5 cents per hour. This is against 12)/^ cents per
hour for an animal horse power. The greater number of
days the tractor is used and the better care it gets the lower
its total operating cost, because in the figures given above

42

FARM POWER

there have been very hberal allowances made for depreciation,
all of which have been charged up against the tractor on the
basis that it works only 100 days a year. The longer the
tractor lasts the less depreciation per year, and the more
days it works the less to be charged up to each day.

55. A Horse Power at the Belt Costs About Two Cents
Per Hour

The tractor referred to in paragraphs 51 and 52 will
deliver easily 16 horse power at the belt. At a total operating
cost of $4.00 per day (page 32) the tractor will deliver 160

CHART III
8,000 Horse Power Hours are Delivered by

8 Horses
in one year

8-16 oil tractor
in 100 days

MEM

Cost with Horses Cost with Tractor

53.76 Interest on Investment $ 43.50

80.00 Depreciation 145.00

18.16 Harness Depreciation

6.32 Shoeing or Repairs 36.25

701.76 Feed or Fuel 154.00

Lubricating Oil 35.00

156.56 (Feeding and caring for) . . .Labor (Supplying oil and fuel) 25.00

4.24 Miscellaneous

1020.80.

Total $438.75

$582.05 SAVED BY USING AN OIL TRACTOR

FARM POWER 43

horse power hours in ten hours, so that the cost per horse
power hour is about two cents.

56. Tractors Always Ready for a Hard Pull

Quoting from The Country Gentleman of September 18,
1915, a prominent horse breeder recently said — '' 'I think too
much of my good brood mares to work them during the heat
of the summer on the binder or on that horse killer, the
gang plow.' It is too much to ask of a brood mare to raise
a big colt and perform heavy labor in summer and fall, but
they can advantageously be used for cultivating and the
lighter work about the farm." Another authority says:

"Thus we find generally that mares have the preference and com-
prise a majority of the horse stock on most farms, the gelding going to
the cities, where they are preferred.

"But not all is smooth saihng when brood mares comprise the
major portion of the farm horse power. Too often mares heavy in foal
must be employed in doing work that no brood mare in such condition
should perform. Necessity and the absence of sufficient number of
other horses to do the work at a critical time demand it. Particularly
is this true in the spring near foahng time. The gravest danger follows
pulling a mare to her limit, backing heavy loads or backing at all over
rough ground, working on slippery ground or traveling far or working
hard on a hot day either before foaling or too soon after foaling. Lost
foals, dead mares or mares so weakened as to be long unfit for service are
likely consequence. Also when mares have colts at side the spring rush
of work often demands that they do too heavy work. They come in
intensely hot, perhaps the rush has prevented stopping between meals
to allow the colts to nurse, and too often the colts are found off feed,
constipated or dysenteric — and all good horsemen know that every check
in a colt's growth likely means many dollars off his market value when
grown. So the man who breeds mares upon which he must depend for
a lot of work has plenty of trouble on his hands unless he place the
welfare of his mare and colts above his crops and it is not always possible
to tell just what it is best to do in a critical time."

Here is another phrase of the farm power question which
again emphasizes the desirability of mechanical motive power.
The tractor is alw^ays ready for a long, hard pull. It will
work under full load for twenty-four hours just as easily as
it does for an hour. It will work on the coldest day in ^^^nter
and on the hottest day in summer. Flies cannot bite it, nor
can the dust choke or blind it. It can be driven to the
absolute limit — you can't tire its muscles nor break its
heart. As long as it gets fuel, it gives power, and during

44 FARM POWER

the stress of a busy season you know the feehng of security
and preparedness which comes to the farmer who has
ample power to take advantage of every favorable hour.

Again, no time is lost in getting under way. In the
morning you have full power available in a moment — no
time is lost in feeding, watering, and hitching up.

If you are doing field work, merely shut down your
engine at night and leave it there. You can go out to it
again in the morning knowing it is just where you left it and
have it started under full load in a minute or two. This
contrasts very strongly with what the horse can do.

57. The Oil Tractor is a One-Man Outfit

The oil farm tractor is essentially a one-man outfit, and
its utility to the farmer lies partly in the fact that with it one
man controls a large amount of power. One man can hardly
handle more than four horses in a team in the Corn Belt,
but he can easily handle an oil tractor that delivers 30 horse
power at the drawbar. It is ver}^ evident from this that the
larger the tractor the greater the saving in man labor. One
man and a small tractor may easily handle three plows.
This work done with horses would require probably two teams
and two drivers. One man and a large tractor can possil^ly
handle eight or ten plows. In this instance the one man takes
the place of the four or five drivers that would be needed for
the teams.

Whether the job be drilling or disking, harrowing or
seeding, it is seldom necessary to have more than one man with
the outfit. If the tractor for plowing is equipped ^vith a self-
steering device, the operator has practically nothing to do
except to watch his plows, and these require very little watch-
ing.

58. Time Spent in Caring for a Tractor

When compared with what a horse expects, the tractor
surely does not ask much of its owner. It requires no valet
service, does not have to be watered and fed three times a
day, curried and rubbed, nor does it require its stable to be
cleaned each morning. Its feed, in striking contrast to what

FARM POWER

45

the horse eats, can be stored anywhere witliout attention.
As for itself, when it stops all attc^ntion and care stops, while
the horse, through the long winter months of idleness, re-
quires feed, feed, feed, and care all the time. All the tractor
asks is an occasional overhauling, and surely there is nothing
disagreeable about this work when compared with the services

which the horse requires.

-^'x "MMt

59. Cost of Housing a Tractor

A tractor needs only a shed
for protection just large enough to
permit the outfit to be run in.
This is in striking contrast to the
expense of barns required for
horses. On the basis of 750 cubic

lUusiration 18
Winter quarters for the tractor

2000 GALLON
KEROSENE

?<f W{

Illustration 19
Note the difference between storing the feed for eight horses and an 8-16 oil tractor

feet of space, which it requires to correctly stable one
horse, eight horses would require 6,000 cubic feet. A tractor
of about the same working capacity would only require
one-eighth as much space. Feed for each horse requires
about 1,400 cubic feet, 100 feet for grain and 1,300 for hay
and straw, or 12,000 cubic feet for eight horses. The feed,
that is, fuel for a tractor, is merely a tank and some cans
placed wherever convenient. This item in favor of the

46 FARM POWER

tractor is frequently overlooked, though in dollars and cents
it is a decided saving in tractive power over horse power.
This is more readily appreciated when we reaUze the vast
amount that the American farmer has invested in his horse
barns.

60. Does the Tractor Pack the Soil?

With the early steam tractors, the packing of the soil
by the tractor wheels often caused serious injury to the crop.

This feature of the early tractor was much advertised,
and sometimes caused considerable prejudice in the minds
of many farmers against all tractors, both gas and steam.
Government experts looked into this matter very thoroughly,
and here is their verdict as shown in a recent Bulletin.

* 'While some gas tractors under certain conditions have
injured the crop by packing the soil, this is not ordinarily
the case. The answers of one hundred and thirty-five tractor
owners who were personally interrogated on this point have
been compiled. These men were located in various states in
the northwest. In answer to the question 'Does the packing
of the soil by tractor wheels injure the crop?' only nine state
that the packing of the soil is injurious, while one hundred and
one say that it is not, twenty-two of this number declaring it
to be beneficial. It may be safely stated that on most soils,
when they are in fit condition to be worked satisfactorily
with horses, the modern gas tractor will cause no in-
jurious packing."

The small farm tractors now being offered have been
reduced very materially in weight when compared with the
power they deliver, with the result that now there is practically
no liability of packing, in fact, an 8-16 tractor puts about
10 pounds pressure per square inch on the soil.

A man weighing 170 pounds, wearing No. 8 shoes,
creates a pressure of 14 pounds to the square inch of surface
where he steps. A horse weighing 1,400 pounds creates a
pressure of approximately 18 to 33 pounds per square inch
under his hoofs while pulling a working load.

FARM POWER 47

61. Life of an Oil Tractor

The life of a tractor cannot be properly expressed in
years alone. The tractor is a machine, and like all machines,
its life d(>ponds on the amount of work it does and on the care
taken of it.

This life can be shortened by lack of proper care and by
abuse in operation. The number of years a tractor will be
available for work on a farm, therefore, depends only partly
on the hours it will be required to work each year, but if the
machine is given proi)er care, both when idle and when in
use, the amount of work done per year will be the principal
factor in determining its length of useful life.

The life of a small tractor properly handled and properly
taken care of when not in use should be sufficiently long to
more than pay for itself and leave its owner a good profit
in dollars and cents and in time saved.

62. Tractors have a Double Use

The tractor will do practically everything on the farm
for which horses or engines are used, that is, all drawbar
and belt work. Of course, there are some exceptions, such
as the planting and cultivating of corn. All the operations
on the grain farm from plowing to hauling to market, all the
operations in corn growing with the exception of those
mentioned, and all the work of hay making with the exception
of drawing sweep rakes and operating stackers are profitable
jobs for the tractor to handle. It ^\ill also pull stumps,
haul lumber, and work the roads.

But the field work is only half the story. Everything
that has a pulley attached to it can be operated by the tractor
— feed grinder, pump, saw, silo filler, thresher, shredder, hay
hoist, corn elevator, concrete mixer, dynamo, and so on.
This work the horse cannot do at all.

Due to this double use it is not necessary for tha
tractor to supplant a great amount of horse power in
order to pay for itself.

48

FARM POWER

63. Jobs for Which a Tractor can be Used

Clearing the Land

Pulling up trees
Tearing out h(^dges
Pulling stumps
Grubbing
Pulling stones

Preparing Seed Bed
and Seeding

Plowing

Listing

Disking

Crushing clods

Smoothing

Rolling

Packing

Drilling

Harvesting

Mowing
Hay loading
Hay hoisting
PulHng grain binders
Pulling corn biiulcT
PuUing potato digger

Belt Work

Hay baling

Corn Shelling

Irrigating

Pumping

Grinding feed

Sawing

Threshing

Husking and shredding

Silo filling

Clover hulling

Stone crushing

Road Work

Grading
Dragging
Leveling
Hauling crops
House moving

Miscellaneous

Elevating corn
Loading logs
Stretching wire
Ditch digging
Spraying
Spreading

and many other jobs

Clearing the Land

Illustration 20

j&V.

■^>V\ ;

'^^

— ' -■ • „-i ;_

Pulling up trees with a large oil
tractor

Pulling out a hedge with a small oil
tractor

Oil tractors are good stump pullers

A 12-25 oil tractor pulling a grubbing
plow

Preparing the Seed Bed and Seeding

Illustration 21

fe3

-^^^i^-i^-^-^^v

1

^H

The oil tractor makes easy work of a
difficult plowing job

A small.farm oil tractor pulling three
disk harrows

fT'-

A

tej*%^^'., iii

1

^

IP

„ ^-^^jf^^h

*

t

I;

i 1

J

Jia^>ij>^aU-^

^" Is

■up^^

^#«

5

-J

liM|§r '««- ^^ « iiMd

mm

M

H

I

Ii:jH

1

1

1

Crushing clods and smoothing the
field

The small oil tractor handles the
spring-tooth harrow in good shape

Some farmers disk and smooth at one
operation with a small tractor

Pulling th^ee grain drills with a small
tractor

Harvesting

Illustration 22

The small tractor easily pulls a
potato digger

This small tractor is pulling one hay
loader, although some farmers
hitch two loaders to the ma-
chine

49

Harvesting (Continued)

A 12-25 traclwi pulling four binders

Pulling a corn picker

Belt Work

Illustration 23

■ ; 'pm

1 t "W

|t>!ft,i.S»a?)

Mf^ ^i

l#^s

p*^

1^1

■ 1

■1

The ideal threshing power

Filling the silo

Husking and shredding the corn crop

Operating a rock crusher

Furnishing power for the feed grinder
located in the barn

Pumping water

90

Belt Work (Continued)

r

f^ttmam

■

zh!

1

^'^

i^JL^iH

B

1

1

■ A.ffl^'^.

^^t^^^feC^.

ii

1

Operating a large corn shelter

Baling Hay — The press is in the barn

Ideal power for a concrete mixer Sawing the wood is part of the winter

work

Road Work

Illustration 24

The small-farm tractor handles a
grader with good results

Plowing up an old roadway with an
oil tractor

A large oil tractor operating an ele* Leveling the roads with a tractor as

vating grader the power

51

Miscellaneous

Illustration 25

Hauling the crop to market

Loading logs

^5*-V'?i:^

Pulling a spreader

Drawing a lime sower

Hauling trees on a country estate

Pulling a hop sprayer

HKftfili

■!^=ii

■' ' ''v ?■ |1 '■• " V '*? •'

-M

inli^i^*-^-

^'

' ''"■ " *^^^-

..-;.. • '■ .,H^"»^ '"

.^

r *.

B

Moving a house

Ideal power for a portable saw milj

52

FARM POWER 53

PART V
PLOWING WITH AN OIL TRACTOR
64. Plowing is the Hardest of All Farm Work

The first gasoline tractors built were intended primarily
for belt work to take the place of steam tractors. Their
work here was so entirely satisfactory that the farmers imme-
diately attempted to put their outfits at work in the field,
and the first work they tried to do was plowing. This is only

Illustration 26. A striking picture of old time and present
methods of plowing

natural, because of all the jobs on the farm, plowing is the
hardest on both man and beast. This is the basic operation
of all farm work, and it should always be done at the right
time. To plow one square mile, or 640 acres, a man and team
must walk 5,280 miles. The gang plow has always been con-
sidered a horse killer, and w^hen farmers discovered that they
could put oil pow'er in the field and save their horses, many
did not hesitate to make the change.

65. Cost of Horse Labor to Plow an Acre is $L25

It requires approximately 10 horse power hours to
turn an acre of land. At a speed of two miles, a team with
one plow in ten hours will turn two acres. To deliver the
2 horse powder required to do this wx)rk, they must travel
176 feet per minute and exert a continuous pull of 375 pounds

or 187.5 pounds per horse.

1 horse powor = 33,000 pounds, 1 foot per miniito.

2 horse power = GO, 000 pounds, 1 foot per minute.

2 mile speed = t\vo times 5,2<S0 or 10,560 feet per hr.,or 176 ft. per min.
66,000-^176 = 375 pounds pull per minute.

We have seen that horse labor costs, according to Govern-
ment figures, 123^2 cents per hour per horse. On this basis

54 FARM POWER

ten hours' work will be $1.25, which is the average horse cost
of plowing per acre.

66. Tractor Cost of Plowing Less than Horse Cost

The cost of plowing with a traction engine depends upon
so many factors that it is difficult to make any definite state-
ment. It depends upon the condition of the ground, size of
the tractor, the number of plows pulled, the amount of fuel
used, etc. An 8-16 horse power tractor, for instance,
burning from 15 to 20 gallons of low grade kerosene per ten-
hour day and using one gallon of lubricating oil, costs $1.89
for 10 hours work. (See page 32.) Pulling two 14-inch
plows and traveling 20 miles per day, the tractor will plow
5.6 acres at a fuel and an oil cost of about 30 cents per acre.
Pulling three 14-inch plows, it will turn 8.4 acres at a cost for
fuel and oil of about 20 cents an acre. The kind and condition
of soil is an important factor in determining the tractor cost
of plowing. At that, the comparison between the lowest
possible horse cost and the highest tractor cost shows a
very interesting difference.

67. Uncle Sam Might Save $200,000,000 on His Plowing Bill

Think of the cost of maintaining 25,000,000 horses
and mules. Last year it was $3,000,000,000, not including
one cent for shelter.

The Census Report for 1910 shows 478,451,000 acres of
improved land in farms, of which 65 per cent is put into crops
that require plowing. This would be a little over 300,000,000
acres to plow every year. Let's assume that only 250,000,000
acres are plowed. One horse can't plow more than one acre
in a day of ten hours, for which the farmer pays $1.25 for
horse labor alone. Just think what Uncle Sam's yearly
plowing bill is — $312,500,000, and he hasn't paid a cent
yet for man labor. He might have had the same work done
for $125,000,000, thereby saving $187,500,000, almost enough
to build a Panama Canal every year.

68. Tractor Plowing Saves Man Labor Expense

The saving of three-fourths in the fuel cost is not the
only one made by the tractor. In addition, there is a man

Illustration 27— Reproduction of Plowing Chart shown
at the San Francisco Exposition, 1915

55

56 FARM POWER

labor saving which amounts to considerable where one man
and a tractor with a number of plows take the place of several
drivers needed to work the horse teams.

69. Tractor Plowing Insures a Better Job

No horse gang can possibly do the quality of work that
can be accomplished by an engine gang. Anxiety to spare
the team has cut a big slice off the profits of many a farmer.
For the sake of his horses he has plowed three or four inches
deep when his judgment as a farmer said ''Go deeper." He
has often plowed late on account of hard ground, and he has
many times allowed a field to remain unplowed on account
of worn-out teams. Under normal conditions, late plowing
never produces as good results as early plowing. Many a
farmer has fed and harnessed by the light of the lantern,
gone to the field and worked his team hard to take advantage
of the cool of the morning. With the approach of the hot
hours of mid-day, with vicious flies sapping the vitahty from
his faithful team, he has eased up on the work or quit the job.
In using the tractor for plowing, there are none of these
distressing conditions to be taken into consideration, nothing
to think of but the quality of work done. It is possible
to plow deep without thought of the added burden.

Deep plowing may generally be taken as an indication of
good farming. In any normal community the farmers who
plow deeper than the average of their neighbors may be
safely considered the best managers. These farmers usually
have the best crops, because by deep plowing they have been
able to use a larger quantity of the natural resources of the
soil. Deep plowing, especially in heavier soils like clay and
those which tend to take on a hard pan character, loosens
up the ground and permits easier root penetration and a
greater absorption of rain water.

70, The Draft of Plows

To estimate on the work to be done with a tractor, one
must figure on the nature of the soil. Numerous tests show
the following table a good basis for figuring:

Illustration 28

A good job of deep plowing with an International Harvester Mogul
8-16 Kerosene Tractor

57

58 FARM POWER

Table VII
Draft per Square Inch of Cross Section of Furrow

In sandy soil 2 to 3 pounds per square inch

In corn stubble 3 pounds per square inch

In wheat stul)ble 4 pounds per square inch

In blue grass sod 6 pounds per square inch

In June grass sod 6 pounds per square inch

In clover sod 7 pounds per square incli

In clay soil 8 pounds per square inch

In prairie sod 15 jiounds per sc|uare inch

In virgin sod lo pounds per square inch

In gumbo 20 i)0und3 per square inch

Example:

Suppose a plow rig has two 14-inch })()ttoms, and the
depth to be plowed is 6 inches. A cross section of each plow is
therefore 14x6 inches, or 84 square inches. Twice this for
two bottoms is 168 square inches. Since, in sandy soil, the
pressure per square inch is three pounds:

Then lGSx3 1bs. - 504 lbs.— draft in sandy soil.
Likewise 168 x 7 lbs. = 1,17G lbs. — draft in clover sod.
Likewise 168 x 8 lbs. = 1,344 lbs.— draft in clay sod.

71. How to Determine the Approximate Drawbar Pull of a
Tractor

To find the approximate drawbar pull of a tractor
traveling 2 miles per hour, multiply the rated drawbar power
by 180 lbs. For instance, a tractor rated at 8-H. P. at the
drawbar (at a 2-mile speed) must have a pull of at least 1,440
lbs. to make good on its rating. This should be a con-
servative estimate of its pull.

72. To Find the Number of Bottoms Which Can be Pulled

To figure the numV)er of bottoms which can be pulled,
divide the drawbar pull by the cross section of one furrow,
multiplied by the draft per square inch of cross section of the
furrow.

Example:

An 8-16-H. P. tractor to be used on the basis explained in
paragraph 71, must have a pull of at least 8 x 180 or 1,440
lbs. to make good its rating. Plowing is to be done in

FARM POWER 59

clover sod, 6 inches deep, and the pressure per square inch
on the plow is 7 lbs., according to the figures given in
paragraph ,70. Thus, the cross section and depth of
plowing (14 X 6) multiplied by 7 (draft per square inch) equals
588 lbs. 1,440 lbs. divided by 588 lbs. equals 2.4. Thus,
we can safely estimate on two bottoms.

73. Conditions Affecting Work of Plowing

Each one per cent of rise in grade — rise of 1 foot in 100
feet — adds one per cent of the weight of the tractor and plows
to the draft. An engine plow gang with two bottoms weighs
about 650 lbs., and the 8-16-H. P. tractor about 5,000 lbs.
Thus, in the example shown under the heading "The Draft
of Plows," the two 14-inch plows plowing at a depth of 6
inches, the draft on a 5 per cent grade would be as follows:

In sandy soil— 504 lbs. plus 280 lbs. = 784 lbs.

It can be readily seen that the number of plows that
can be pulled will depend largely upon the elevation and
condition of the land . The footing of the tractor, weight
of the plow gang, the elevation above sea level, and
other points should be taken into consideration in figur-
ing on tractor outfits.

74. Plowing Continuous Furrows from Center of Land

There are several ways of laying out and plowing land with
tractors. It must be remembered that plows will not always cut
the same width in tough land as in easier plowed land, and there-
fore it requires some experience and judgment on the part of the
operator in order to lay out and plow a field and do a clean job.
Local conditions must always govern the manner of laying off
"lands'^ and they can be narrow or wide to give more dead fur-
rows for drainage in wet localities and fewer dead furrows in dry
countries where it is desirable to conserve all rainfall in the soil.
Herewith are given two ways of proceeding to lay out and plow;

60

FARM POWER

One method quite often used in plowing rectangular
fields is by means of a continuous furrow. Do\vti through
the center of the field, stakes are set 10 or 15 steps closer to
the ends than the sides, to allow for the narrowing of the
furrow in turning the ends. Plows are started at the left
end and pulled to the right, in the direction of the arrows
sho\vn in Chart IV. When the opposite stake is reached the
plows are lifted and the tractor turned around as indicated
by dotted lines, and swung in on a curve so as to round up
the ends. It is necessary at the outset to make this loop
at the ends on account of the short turn on the return furrow.
When the land is wide enough the plows are left in the ground
for a continuous furrow around the entire land. When the
field is finished nothing will remain except small corners
which can then be finished. From the standpoint of saving
time this is the most approved method, because the plows
are working continuously. Curve plowing, however due to
an uneven distribution of the load is hard on the tractor gears.

Chart IV — Plowing continuous furrows.

75. Back Furrowing and Dead Furrowing

This method is an exceptionally efficient method of plowing,
because with it it is not necessary to make a double turn with
the tractor. The only turns it makes are in a half circle. While it
may pack the head lands to some extent, we do not think
that packing is at all serious. When the head lands are
plowed with a tractor, the entire field is plowed without any
wheel tracks, and with ample back furrows and dead furrows.
This method is clearly shown in Charts V, VI and VII.

To proceed with this method, leave about 15 steps (45
feet) all around the field on which the outfit can turn. With
one bottom only in the ground, plow a furrow AO fifteen
steps from the fence. Also MN fifteen steps from the op-

STKtrr

Chart V — Layout for rectangular fields. Note: Starting at point
indicated, the hne is continuous to "U," and can be easily traced. The hne
represents merely the course of the outfit in plowing the lands. The arrow heads
indicate direction in which the outfit travels, and half arrows the direction
in which the furrow is turned. This is the most approved method of plowing
because it is all done on a straight pull, which eliminates uneven strains on gears
developed by curve plowing where the differential throws the burden of the
load upon the outside driver.

61

FARM POWER

Chart VI — An irregular field plowed by the back-furrowing
and dead furrowing method explained in paragraph 75.

posite fence. In plowing, the bottoms should be started into
or out of the ground just as the frolit carrying wheel reaches
the bank of these headland furrows.

Now A is 15 steps from both adjacent boundaries. Pace
20 steps (60 feet) to B, and set stakes at C and D 35 steps
from the fence. Starting at B, plow through C and D.
From D pace off 60 steps to E and set stakes at F, 60 paces
from C, and at G, 60 paces from B. Turn the engine as
indicated by the lines, and plow through EFG. Turn and
come in to the left of B and proceed as indicated until 20
steps have been plowed off both sides of the land BDEG.
The engine will now proceed from H to K and plow to L,
where it will turn to the right, plow arooind DBKL, taking
off 20 steps on both sides, finishing on the line MA, 15 steps
from the fence.

From A proceed to G and plow from G to E. Pace off
60 steps from E to P and set stakes at Q and R 60 steps from
F and G, respectively. Plow through PQR, turn around R
to the left and swing in again to the left of G. Plow around

FARM POWER

63

Chart VII — An irregular field plowed as explained in paragraph 75.

20 steps off each side the land GEPR as indicated by the lines.
Then plow around the 2()-step land STPR, taking off 20 steps
on each side. Having finished this, bring the engine around
to U and proceed as before.

When laying out the land, it may be a little more or less
than the outer lands, and should be divided into greater
or smaller portions. For instance, a 45-step land would be
divided into strips 15 steps wide.

Illustration 29 — Plowing with a medium sized oil tractor and S-bottom plow

64

FARM POWER

When the field is finished the 15 steps around the border
should be plowed by goin^ clear around the lands, cutting
across the corners about 20 feet from the corners.

76. Plowing At Various Speeds

The following table indicates the acreage turned by-
one plow bottom traveling at different speeds of various
International Harvester Tractors.

(A strip 1 ft. wide and 43,560 ft. (8.25 miles) long = l acre.
Basis] A strip 99 inches wide and 1 mile long=l acre or 43,560 sq. ft.
[Tractor works 10 hours — no allowance for stops.

Titan 15-30-slow speed
Mogul 8-16 and 12-25. .

Titan 30-60

Mogul 30-60

Titan 15-30 fast speed .

Acres Plowed per Day

Speed

Miles per

Plour

One
12' Plow

One
14" Plow

One
16' Plow

1.87

2.26

2.64

3.02

2.00

2.42

2.82

3.23

2.08

2.52

2.93

3.36

2.18

2.64

3.07

3.58

2.40

2.90

3.38

3.88

The Table Following is Figured On This Basis:

A strip 1 ft. wide and 43,560 ft. (8.25 miles) long = l acre.
A strip 99 inches wide and 1 mile long=l acre of 43,560 sq. ft.
Machine travels 2 miles per hour or 20 miles per day.
Full 10 hours travel with no time out for stops.

In determining the work accomplished at a different spee^^
than this the work will be greater or less according as the speed i
slower or faster. Thus a horse traveling one and one half miles
per hour would do only three quarters of the work.

77. Plowing

No. Plows

.\cro3 Plowed per Day

12' Plow

14" Plow

IG" Plow

1

2.42

2.82

3.23

2

4.84

5.64

6.46

3

7.26

8.46

9.69

4

9.68

11.28

12.92

5

12.10

14.10

16.15

6

14.52

16.92

19.38

7

16.94

19.74

22.61

8

19.36

22.56

25.84

9

21.78

25.38

29.07

10

1 24.20

2S.20

32.30

FARM POWER

65

PART VI

FIELD AND ROAD WORK WITH AN OIL TRACTOR

78. Harvesting with an Oil Tractor

The advantages of an oil tractor in the harvest field are
so well stated by P. J. Ruetenick, INLanager of the Good Hope
Farms at Mentor, Ohio, in one of his recent contributions to
The Country Gentleman (Oct. 2, 1915) that we quote herewith:
The same tractor has boon usod on an oighl-foot binder. This is
equipped with a tongue truck, to which a pole throe foot lonf^ is attached.
^\'ith a clevis on the drawbar this is the only additional eciuipniont re-
quired. A mirror is fixed at the side of the tractor. This mirror is
large enough to show the knotter arrangement on the grain binder. The
operator looks into this mirror and if the twine should break, or the
packers become clogged, he can see them and stop in a moment. This

Illustration 30
Pulling five grain binders with an oil tractor

reaping outfit has given the best of satisfaction, and with an eight-foot
binder in a contest has accomplished more work than two six-foot binders
operated by horses, under the same conditions. The hottest weather is
usually experienced at harvest, and flies are the most bothersome, hence
there are never three horses that work equally well together. If there
is any rush work horses must be changed for fresh ones before the day is
over. With the tractor no stops are necessar^^ The tanks are filled in
the morning, and the outfit goes on from morning to night cutting the
grain. It is left in the field, and a few hours arc put in at the work dur-
ing the evening.

The binder with tractor for power will take the corners at right
angles, without leaving any grain. The operator pulls the binder a little
past the grain, then with a quick motion of the steering wheel brings
the tractor close to the grain again. This will practically turn the binder
at right angles and will take a fresh swath with better ease than the
horses. With the mirror attachment, which any handy farmer can
make, there need be no operator on the binder, as the man on the tractor
can at all times see the knotter on the binder without inconvenience.

66 FARM POWER

Mr. Frank Benders of Benson, Woodford Co., 111., has an
entirely different arrangement from that used by Mr. Ruetenick
for making a one-man outfit of his Mogul 8-16 tractor and
McCormick binder. He has extended the steering wheel
of the tractor back to the seat on the binder, as shown in
the illustration and guides the tractor from that position.

Illustration 31
Mr. Frank Bender's one-man harvesting outfife

79. Cost of Harvesting with Grain Binders

Table VIII— With Horse

8-foot, binder and 4 horses 15 acres per day

Horse labor at 12.5 cents per hour (p. 12) $5.00

Man labor per day 2.00

Total per day $7.00

Cost per acre $0 . 46

Interest on binder — average $9 . 70

Depreciation on binder, average 15.00

Total, per year $24.00

On basis of cutting 160 acres:

Interest and depreciation — cost por acre ■$0 15

Total cost per acre $0.61

On basis of 20 bushels per acre, cost per bushel is 3 cents.

Table IX— With Tractor

(With a driver for the tractor and a man on each binder)

8-16 tractor and two 8-foot binders 40 acres per day

Tractor cost per day (par. 54) $4 . 00

Labor of three men 6.00

Total per day $10.00

Co.st per acre $0 . 25

Interest and depreciation charges per acre same as when

horses were used .$0. 15

Total cost per acre $0 . 40

On basis of 20 bushels per acre, cost per bushel is 2 cents per bushel.

FARM POWER

67

80.

Tables 80 to 88 are Figured On This Basis:

A strip 1 It. wide and 4;>.5()() ft. (S.2.~) miles; U)U\i^^ I acre.

Ma(;hin(; travels 2 miles per hour or 20 miles per day, with no time
out for stops.

At a different speed than this work will be greater or less as the
speed is faster or slower. A horse traveling 1)^ miles per hour would do
only three-quarters of the work.

Disking

Acres Disked per Day

Size of Disk Harrow

1 Harrow

2 Harrows

3 Harrows

8- disk— 4-ft.
10-disk— 5-ft.
12-disk— 6-ft.
14-disk— 7-ft.
16-disk— 8-ft.

9.68
12.1
14.52
16.94
19.36

19.36

24.2

29.04

33.88
38.72

29.04

36.3

43.56

50.82

58.08

81. Harrowing

"Width of
Section

Acres Harrowed per Day

With 2 Sections

With 3 Sections

With 4 Sections

5 ft.'

24.2

36.3

48.4

82. Drilling

A

icres Seeded per Day

Size of Drill

With 1 Drill

With 2 Drills

With 3 Drilla

6x8— 4'

9.68

19.36

29.04

8x8— 5' 4"

12.91

25.82

38.73

12x6 or 9x8— 6'

14.52

29.04

43.56

10x8— 6' 8"

16.13

32.26

48.39

11x8— 7' V

17.75

35.50

53.25

16x6 or 12x8— 8'

19.36

38.72

58.08

14x8— 9' 4"

22.59

45.18

67.77

9x7— 5' 3"

12.7

25.4

38.1

10x7— 5'10"

14.12

28.24

42.36

11x7— 6' 5"

15.53

31.06

46.59

14x6 or 12x7— 1'

16.94

33.88

50.82

14x7— 8' 2"

19.76

39.52

59.28

16x7— 9' 4"

22.59

45.18

67.77

18x7—10' 6"

25.41

50.32

76.23

20x7—11' 8"

28.23

56.46

84.69

10x6— 5'

12.1

24.2

36.3

15x6— 7' 6"

18.15

36.30

54.45

18x6— 9'

21.78

43.56

65.34

20x6—10'

24.2

48.4

72.6

22x6—11'

26.62

53.24

79.86

83. Harvesting With Corn Binders

Acres Harvested per Day

Spacing of Rows

With 1 Binder

With 2 Binders

With 3 Binders

40-in. rows
42-in. rows
44-in, rows

8.06

8.47

S.S6

16.12

16.94
17.72

24.18
25.41
26.58

68

FARM POWER

(Basis for Figures on preceding Page — no allowance made for stops)
84. Harvesting With Grain Binders

Size of

Acres Harvested per Day

Binder

With 1 Binder

With 2 Binders

With 3 Binders

With 4 Binders

5-ft.
6-ft.
7-ft.
8-ft.

12.1
14.52

16.94
19.36

24.2

29.04
33.88
38.72

36.3

43.56
50.82

58.08

48.4
58.08
67.76
77.44

85. Mowing

Acres Cut per Day

Size of Mower

With 1 Mower

With 2 Mowers

With 3 Mowers

sVo-h.

8.47

16.94

25.41

4 -ft.

9.68

19.36

29.04

4H-ft.

10.89

21.78

32.67

5 -ft.

12.10

24.2

36.3

6 -ft.

14.52

29.04

43.56

7 -ft.

16.94

33.88

50.82

86. Hay Loading

Basis — Figuring IV^ tons (*) of hay per acre, it is necessary to
travel 3^ of a mile with an 8-ft. loader to gather a ton load (8'3"xl mile =
1 acre). At the rate of 2 miles per hour (tractor speed) it will take 20
minutes to travel 3^ of a mile and pick up a ton load. Allow 10 minutes
for changing wagons and start to gather another load. On this basis a
tractor travels 40 minutes out of every 60, or 13/^ miles per hour, picking
up 2 loads per hour — 10 hours =13 miles or 20 loads.

Acres Raked per Day

Width of Loader

1 '/2 Tons per Acre
1 14 Miles per Hour

2 Tons per Acre

Travels 12 Miles

per Day

2!/2 Tons per Acre

Travels 10 Miles

per Day

Rake Loader
8-foot

13 H acres

20
ton loads

12 acres

24
ton loads

10 acres

27
ton loads

Windrow Loader
6-foot

Same as rake loader, because a side delivery
rake is 7^2 or 8 ft. wide and puts hay covering
a strip that wide into a windrow.

♦1910 Census says —

Timothy averaged 1.22 tons per acre

Clover averaged 1.29 tons per acre

Clover and Timothy averaged 1.27 tons per acre

Alfalfa averaged 2.50 tons per acre

(Page 638. U. S. C. R. 1910. Vol. V)
Also — Average acreage of forage of all kinds 21.2 in 1909
(Page (i43. U. S. C. R. 1910, Vol. V)

FARM POWER

69

87. Planting Corn (With Horses —20 Miles Travel a Day)

Spacing of Row.i

Acres Planted Per Day

With 1 Planter

With 2 Planters

40-in. rows
42-in. rows
44-in. rows

16.12

16.94
17.72

32.24
33.88
35.44

88. Cultivating Corn (With Horses— 20 Miles Travel a Day)

Acres Cultivated per Day

Spacing of Rows

With 1 Cultivator

With 2 Cultivators or
1 Double Row Cultivator

40-in. rows
42-in. rows
44-in. rows

8.06

8.47
8.86

16.12
16.94
17.72

89. Draft of Wagons

An average draft per ton of load, on a four-wheeled wagon,
according to the best authorities (Kent, Gen. ]\Iorin, Rankine,
Trautwnne, and Hasw^ell) is as follows:

On macadam road — 50 lbs. per ton
On gravel road — 140 lbs. per ton.
On sand road — 240 lbs. per ton.

An 8-16 tractor with a 1,400 lb. drawbar pull w^ould
therefore haul, on level gravel road, 1,400^140=10 tons.

The increase in the tractive power required per ton on
various grades is as follows:

TABLE X

Grade

Macadam Road

Gravel Road

Sand or Earth
Road

Level

1 per cent

2 per cent
5 per cent

10 per cent
15 per cent

50 lbs.

70 lbs.

90 lbs.
150 lbs.
250 lbs.
350 lbs.

140 lbs.
160 lbs.
ISO lbs.
240 lbs.
340 lbs.
440 lbs.

240 lbs.
260 lbs.
280 lbs.
340 lbs.
440 lbs.
540 lbs.

From the table above, it will be noted that the better
the road the greater the increase in draft on up-grades, but
on a level road, the better the road the lighter the draft.
To illustrate this in terms of animal power, the maximum

70

FARM POWER

load of a 1,200 pound horse [pulling l/lO of his weight or
120 pounds] on a gravel road in good condition is about 2,000
pounds; on a macadam road from 2,000 to 5,000 pounds.
Assuming that a horse can draw 2,000 pounds on an improved
level gravel road, with the same pull against the collar he can
only draw 750 pounds on a ten per cent grade.

Illustration 32

This shows the increase of power needed on a gravel road. The better the road the

greater the increase of pow^er required on grades. On a good gravel

road if one horse pulled the load on a level, two would be needed

on a 5% grade, three on a lO'c and four on a 15% grade.

90. Cost of Hauling with Horses

A two-horse team will haul 50 bushels of 60-pound grain
on a good, hard gravel road (which will ro(|uire a draft of
210 pounds according to the table given) at the rate of two
miles per hour and at a cost of 25 cents per hour for horse
labor only.

According to Farmers^ Bulletin No. 672, the Bureau of
Crop Estimates finds an average distance from market of
6.5 mil(\s for the farms of the United States. It requires about
one-half a day for the average farmer to make a round trip
with w^agon from farm to market and back. This Bureau
also finds that the average size of a wagon load of cotton in
the United States is three bales or 1,500 pounds, while the
average wagon load of wheat is 53.5 bushels or 3,200 pounds.

On the basis of two trips per day, the farmer makes one
trip to market and back, 13 miles, in about five hours. At
25 cents per hour for horse labor, this trip costs $1.25. An

FARM POWER

71

approximate load of 3,000 pounds or a ton and a half for
6H miles is 9^4 ton miles. This makes the cost of hauling
wheat about 13 cents per ton mile, not including labor.

The Government estimated in 1906 the following as the
cost of wagon hauling per day:

Wheat $3.60

Corn 3.00

Cotton 2.80

Since 1906 wage, labor and feed have increased consider-
ably, so that 1915 wheat hauling per day will cost about
$4.35. If 9J^ ton miles are hauled each trip, or 193/2 ton miles
per day, the cost is about 23 cents per ton mile including
labor.

This average cost varies. In some cases the Government
finds it cost only 17 cents a ton mile on good roads, while on
extremely bad roads the cost runs up to 35 cents a ton mile.

TABLE XI

Hauling crops from farms — distance — time and size of load.
Synopsis of Table VI in Farmers' Bulletin 672
(These figures refer to wagon hauls from farms to aU points at which
products are delivered by farmers)

STATES5

Average for
all Farms
1915

Average for

the more

Remote

Farms

1915

Average Size of

Wagon Load

1915

Estimated Time Spent in Haul-
ing from Farms in an
Average Year

o <v
-!-> a

a; °

a v
■tj 1-1 "^

■-^^

Miles

5.0
6.8
4.5
7.6

8.9

'^ Distance to
z: Market one

S way

Round
Trip
per day

rt

o

11

■^ a
u3

Bales
"2.4

3.5

c

u
0

U

a
0

a
0

0

0

No.

Bush.

Bush.

47.1
30.0
48.3
59.5
52.1

Days

Days

Days

Eastern..

6.7

8.8

6.2

10.1

11.6

1.7
1.6
1.8
1.5
1.5

49.8
25.8
44.8
45.6
36.6

433,700
1,547,800
1,564,000
1,288,600
1,524,100

489,100

744,500

465,100

2,475,500

2,683,200

Southern ....
Central

2,128,100

Northwest...

Southwest. . .

States of very

small prod...

402,700
1,500

6.5

8.7

1.6

40.5

47.4

3.0

6,358,203

6,857,400

United States

2,532,300

91. Cost of Hauling with an Oil Tractor

An 8-16 tractor with a pull of 1,500 pounds on the draw-
bar will haul, on a good gravel road, 10 tons of grain (335

72 FARM POWER

bushels) at an average of about two miles an hour, at a total
cost of 40 cents per hour, or 20 cents per mile, or 2
cents per ton mile. Adding cost of return trip, the total
is about 4 cents per ton mile.

The value of these figures is not so much that they give
the actual hauling cost per mile with horses and tractors,
but rather that they afford a comparison. We can safely
say that under average conditions a tractor should be able
to haul a ton a mile for one-fourth the cost of hauling with
horses.

92. Time and Money the Tractor Might Save on Our
Annual Hauling Cost

Farmers' Bulletin No. 672 says — ''It would require about
6,358,000 days for one wagon to haul from farms the marketed
portion of an average corn crop. The corresponding figure
for wheat is about 6,857,000, and for cotton 2,532,000."

An 8-16 oil tractor will haul from five to six times the
load that a team will, so the total of more than 15,000,000
days for one w^agon with horses could be cut to about 3,000,000
days with a tractor, and on the total hauhng cost of more
than S45,000,000 we could save almost $30,000,000 by using
the tractor.

93. The Oil Tractor Can Be Used For Road Work

Men familiar with country road conditions say that the
main reasons why most American roads are so bad is that farm
horses are already overworked and that therefore farmers
will not put their horses to work on road improvement except
under process of law. It is difficult for an amateur to see
the difference between abusing horses by making them work on
road improvements, or abusing them by making them haul
loads over the fearful roads that result from such neglect. Both
kinds of work are harder than horses should be asked to do.

The oil tractor has time and energy after the farm work
is done to improve the roads. There is no road machine
made that cannot be handled as effectively and at less expense
with the tractor than with horses. A few of the uses of the
oil tractor in this work are shown on page 52.

FARM POWER 73

94. Belt Power Required To Operate Machines

TABLE X

ft

Approximate
Horse Power

Meadows Corn Mill No. 1 2 to 4

Meadows Corn Mill No. 2 4 to 6

Meadows Corn Mill No. 3 6 to 8

Meadows Corn Mill No. 4 10 to 15

Meadows Corn Mill No. 5 15 to 20

International Feed Grinder, Type B — 6" 2 to 5

International Feed Grinder, Type B — 8" 3 to 10

International Feed Grinder, Type B — 10" 6 to 15

International Feed Grinder, Type C — 6" (small grain) 2 to 5

International Feed Grinder, Type C — 8" (small grain) 4 to 10

International Feed Grinder, Type D — 8" (unhusked corn) 6 to 10

International Feed Grinder, Type D — 10" (unhusked corn) .... 8 to 15

Keystone XL Sheller 2

Keystone Sheller 2

Keystone 2-hole Sheller 4

Keystone 4-hole Sheller 8

Keystone 6-hole Sheller 12

Deering 2-roll Husker and Shredder 8

Deering 4-roll Husker and Shredder 10 to 12

Deering 6-roll Husker and Shredder 15 to 20

McCormick Little Giant 4-roll Husker and Shredder 10 to 12

McCormick Little Giant 6-roll Husker and Shredder 12 to 15

McCormick Improved 6-roll Husker and Shredder 15 to 20

McCormick Improved 8-roll Husker and Shredder 20 to 25

Sterhng Thresher No. 26 6 to 8

SterUng Thresher No. 30 6 to 8

Sterling Thresher No. 21 4 to 6

Sterling Thresher No. 21 >^ 4 to 6

New Racine Thresher 20 x 32 6 to 12

New Racine Thresher 24 x 40 (with attachments) 16 to 25

New Racine Thresher 28 x 48 (with attachments) 15 to 30

New Racine Thresher 32 x 52 (with attachments) 20 to 35

New Racine Thresher 36 x 56 35 to 45

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 28 x 48 (with attachments) 25 to 30

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 30 x 50 (with attachments) 30 to 35

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 32 x 50 (with attachments) 30 to 40

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 34 x 56 (with attachments) 35 to 45

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 38 x 62 (with attachments) 40 to 50

Buffalo Pitts Thresher 41 x 62 (with attachments) 40 to 50

International Power Press 14 x 18 6 to 12

International Power Press 16 x 18 6 to 12

International Power Press 17 x 22 6 to 12

International Ensilage Cutter Type F 4 to 6

International Ensilage Cutter Type E 10 to 15

International Ensilage Cutter Type B 15 to 20

International Ensilage Cutter Type A 20 to 25

Steel King Ensilage Cutter No. 14 15 to 20

Steel King Ensilage Cutter No. 12 12 to 15

Steel King Ensilage Cutter No. 10 6 to 8

Belle City Power Feed Cutter B-2 10

Belle City Power Feed Cutter A-2 8

Belle City Power Feed Cutter No. 1 6

Belle City Power Feed Cutter No. 3 4

74

FARM POWER

95. Tractor Hitches for Field Use

When it is desired to pull a number of machines by the tractor, care
must be exercised to properly hitch the machines. When plowing, this
problem gives no trouble as only a clevis is necessary; but when a number
of machines are combined to be used at the same time, trouble will be
experienced if hitches are not properly made. On the following pages arc
shown diagrams of practical hitches which can be made easily on any
farm.

It will be noted from the designs that most of these hitches require a
supplementary drawbar made of 2 x 4 hard wood, one or two pieces
bolted together and wude enough to accommodate the number of ma-
chines being pulled. This supplementary drawbar is sometimes called a
"spreader." In hitching this to the tractor, note that the chains mu3t
cross. This is necessary in order to have an even pull and prevent twist-
ing of the outfit.

In pulhng wagons, grain drills, and all machines and implements
with poles, a false pole of about 3 or 4 feet in length should be sub-
stituted for the horse pole wherever the machine is to be carried close to
the tractor or the supplementary drawbar. This short pole will allow
the machines to get close to fence corners and other places, and will
afford a rigid brace for backing if necessary.

96. Hitch for Plow and
Disk Harrow iiiust. 33

97. Hitch for Plow and
Peg Harrow iiiust. 34

A^ VJIRE CAflLE
B 2x4"haRD wood
C ^g" U BOlT

A -^ W/«£ CABLE
B 2' X 4 HARD WOOD

C >'g (/ BOLT

FARM POWER

75

98. Hitch for Two Disk Harrows lUu.t. 33

(\-y?, CHAIN
B-a^4 HARD WOOD

99. Hitch for Three Disk Harrows niu«t. 36

A-4 C»A\N
B-JX-f OR 2-£"x -»■'
HARD WOOD
BOLTED TOGETHER

76

FARM POWER

100. Hitch for Two Disk Harrows and Peg Harrows iiiust. 37

A— i/i " CHAIN

B— 2 X 4 " HARD WOOD

C— 2 X 4" HARD WOOD

101. Hitch for Disk Harrows and Drags iiiust. 38

DiSCJ AND SC«uBBEIIS ATTACHED

WiTmV<' WlBe CAOt-C AN o

c LEvi:iCs.

CtSI^NlO <i OPtRATCO BY
E..F BROC^MAN AT

PLAlNV;tw fARM. 9 milIS

SOUTH lAJORO 3ASK.

z:^^^

FARM POWER

77

102. Hitch for Two Spring-Tooth and Peg-Tooth Harrows

Illust. 39

A-i/i» CHAIN

B-2» X 4" HARD WOOD

C— 2'x4«

103. Hitch for Three Peg-Tooth Smoothing Harrows

A-^ O/?^ CHAIN

S-3"^' OR 2-z'x4

HARO WOOO

BOLTED TOGETHER

Illust. 40

78

FARM POWER

104. Hitch for Disk and Peg Harrows, Drills and Grumblers

Illust. 41

1

► JNO. S KLAU5, OF

GrUElCHEN, AlTA.

Z^tt SM& HMMvwr

KlAUI 0*CiiL*TPN» MOnt MAOS CLOD CRWMBlER *NOMOI6TuRt »HS»l«Vtd MADl or CIC>^« POjrj

•o«fO THKo ctttTia »• mcpt oa casli kmot liTwitn iach post it roi.i.s thk. cloo^ imto i
HAKIt AN Aia TI6HT BlANKtT OVCR SfkP »rp

FARM POWER

79

105. Hitch for Disks, Drills and Drag Harrows iiiu.t. 42

1520 ViCTOWA MIC

WITM MOOiriCAT.ONS

80

FARM POWER

106. Hitch for Smoothing Harrows and Roller iiiust. 43

A-^ CHAIN
HARD WOOD

107. Hitch for Four Drills must. 44

D t S I C N EP BY
THE DAKOTA \
Ti^H.^ E Ft
ADERDEEN . 5 D.

FARM POWER

61

108. Hitch for Three Drills iiiust. 45

109. Hitch for Two Drills iiiust. 46

^- 2 A -^ " yYy^^^ ^aO£>

82

FARM POWER

110. Hitch for Two Mowers iiiust. 47

^-^ Avy^jf ^>^^x^

a^^ ^/>r^^A*y^js^^73V /ce^/y^ ^^^^^/^

•'''^f)mUAAAAAW^

Illust. 48 Grader Hitch

111. Hitch for Road Grader

We illustrate herewith an eas-
ily made set-off hitch for use when
working the roads if a regular set-
off hitch is not available. Note
that the rope is hitched from one
side of the grader to one end of the
tractor drawbar, then tied around
the end of the grader pole through a hook on the other end
of the tractor drawbar and back to the driver's seat. A
special draw chain is attached from the tractor drawbar to the
front axle of the grader. The operator on the grader seat
holding one end of the rope can then manipulate the position
of the grader to accommodate any width of road. By tying
to the grader the end of the rope which the operator
holds, the hitch becomes stationary, and the grader will
always travel in the set-off position to which it is adjusted.

FARM POWER

83

112. Tractor Binder Hitches

In hitcliing more than one binder behind a tractor, a
hitch must be designed to reheve the binder from the strains
caused by the machines which follow, and at the same time
provide a means of making the binder travel in the desired
offset relation to the machines in front. The operator must
also be a})le to guide his machine to cut a full vswath and in
turning corners he must avoid running down standing grain.

A home made hitch to accomplish this is impractical,
besides, each make of binder requires a hitch suited to the
construction of the binder. For this reason special binder
tractor hitches have been designed which can be attached to
the binders in the field without alterations to the machine,
with np changes in the frames, or no necessity for boring extra
holes.

Herewith we show partial views of the special binder
tractor hitches designed for Deering and McCormick grain
binders. In ordering tractor hitches, it is necessary to state
the make of binder for which the hitch is intended.

Illust. 49
Rear View — Deering Binder Hitch

Illust. 50
Front View — McCormick Binder Hitch

84

FARM POV/ER

113. Special Tractor-Wagon Hitch

With this liitch it is possible to draw one or inorc ..asons with all the pull on
the tractor drawbar instead of on the Koar of the first wagon. Hitch No. 114 is a
home made hitch which is practical if only two wauons are to be drawn, because tho
gear of the first wagon can probably
carry the pull of the second, but if
the loads are heavy and the roads
rough and more than two wagons are
being hauled, a hitch of this kind
may cause some trouble.

The special hitch herewith
shown souH be a pan of every farm
equipment where considerable haul-
ing is done with the tractor. The
first wagon carries a special tongue,
and on the tractor drawbar is fas-
tened the guide horn and bumper at-
tachment (shown on end of reach in
illustration 51). If a second wagon is
to be carried, the reach and rear
axle of the first wagon are also pro-
vided with a guide horn and bumper
attachment (similar to that on the
tractor drawbar) to which is at-
tached the trailer tongue of the
second wagon. This guide horn and
bumper attachment on the tractor
drawbar and on the reach of all but
the last wagon takes all the bumps
and serves to hold in line and guide
the wagons. The main draw chain
(Illustration 52) is attached to the
tractor drawbar, then passes through
the chain carry link under the first
wagon and is attached to the draw
chain on the trailer tongue of the
second wagon. Any number of
wagons may be attached in this way
by securing the special tongues and
guide horn and bumper attachments.
With these on the wagons the trac-
tor can safely take over the road,
without strain on any wagon, all
the load the macliine will pull.

Illust. 51. Right, guide horn and

bumper attachment on end of reach

Left, special tongue

Illust. 52. Two wagons hitched with main draw chain in place

FARM POWER

85

114. Hitch for

Two Wagons iiiust. 53

115. Hitch for

Two Hay Loaders niu«t. 54

m

f

w

-i^

^^.

^-:3-=:.}-

^- 2- 3'm.'^'X/^' S'^^t-^j^ ^-^^JTrVK^/^

86

FARM POWER

116. Hitches for Leering and McCormick Headers
and Header Binders

Tractor hitches pull tractoRj
instead of push. Hitches
for both Dcering and
McCormick push machint^s
attach for a pull against
the load rather than a
push as when using horses.
They are simple and easily
attached, and by the use of
tractor power make big
cutting operations easier for
all concerned. The tractor
is easier handled on turns
than the three horses on
each side of the pole. In
each instance the draw bar
extending under the plat-
form does not interfere with
the position of the platform
when set for either high or
low cutting.

Illust. 55. McCormick
Hitch consists of steel pull-
bars l:)olted rigidly together
at one end and opens suf-
ficiently at the other to
attach to the axle on each
side of dri\'o wheel. Sub-
stantial bracing between
the bars gi^•es ample
strength to resist all strains.

Illust. 56. Deering Hitch consists of
steel reds linked together in a flexible
c o n n e ct i o n . This
attaches to tongue pipe
near rear end of machine,
also to main axle and
frame inside the drive
wheels, extends under
platform to stubble side
and to the
tractor by
means of a
chain.

MAIN
WHEEL

ATTACHE5
HERE

POINT OF
ATTACHMENT

Illuat. 55. Hitch for McCormick
Push Machines

Illust. 56. Hitch for Deering
Push Machines

FARM POWER

87

HIGHEST

POSSIBLE AWARD

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

KEROSENE
TRACTORS

OFFICIAL

AWARD
RIBBON

PANAMA PACIFIC

INTERNATIONAL

EXPOSITION

SAN FRANCISCO

1915

PRESIOENTOF THE SUPtHI OR JURY

OIRECTORpf EXHIBITS

SlCry OFTMtlNTtR.MAr^ONAL
AWARD SYSTEM

GRAND
PRIZE

DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

iM^^

The Verdict of The Judges At The

San Francisco and San Diego

Expositions, 1915

In accordance with its well-known policy
of many years' standing, the Harvester Com-
pany arranged to exhil)it its machines at
both the Panama-Pacific International Ex-
position at San Francisco and the Panama-
California Exposition at San Diego. At
b'an Francisco these machines were placed
on the floor of the agricultural building for
the express purpose of permitting an un-
biased jur}^ of international reputation to
pass upon their fitness to do the work for
which they were intended. At San Diego a
better opportunity was afforded to show the
tractors at work, for adjoining the Harvester
Building was a large demonstration field
where the tractors could be shown in actual
work. At San Francisco the jury of awards,
men well known to the farming fraternity
and of long experience in the farm machine
business, awarded International Harvester
Oil Tractors the grand prize. At San Diego
another jury also awarded these same ma-
chines a grand prize. No other tractor re-
ceived the distinction of winning the two
highest prizes at two expositions of this
magnitude.

To the farmer who is thinking of replacing
his expensive power equipment of horses
by the cheaper oil power, this verdict is
worth a great deal, for it points out to him
the tractors in which he can place the most
confidence.

We firmly believe that the decision of the
judges at both San Francisco and San Diego
is a reliable guide.

FARM POWER

MOGUL 8-16.H. P. KEROSENE TRACTOR

General Purpose Small-Farm Tractor

This small-farm kerosene burning tractor will do the field and belt
work on more than 80 per cent of the farms of this country. It is just
the right size for the average farm — inexpensive to buy, to keep and to
operate.

Power Plant: A single cylinder, slow speed oil-burning engine of extremely
simple construction. Crank case completely enclosed to keep out dust
and grit.

Governor: Fly-ball throtthng governor running in oil.

Mixer: Identical with tb? mixer used on larger Mogul engines. Very simple,
yet handles great variety of fuels — kerosene, distillate down to 39 de-
grees Baume, gas oil, solar oil, motor spirits, naphtha and gasoline.

Cooling: Water-cooled by large hopper holding 35 gallons.

Ignition: Make-and-break, the current being furnished by high-grade

oscillating type magneto. No batteries required.
Lubrication. Main bearings and piston are lubricated by an automatic

force feed oiler.

Transmission: Planetary transmission, the simplest ever designed, is used
on this tractor. The gears are always in mesh, and as they are tlirown
in or out of action by means of brake bands there is no danger of strip-
ping them. Gear case is dust-tight, and gears run in bath of oil.

Chain Drive: Power is transmitted from transmission to the large drive
wheels by chain on left side.

Steering: Tractor is steered by a hand wheel convenient to the driver,
operating a non-reversible worm and sector steering gear.

Specifications

Power — 8-H. P. drawbar —

16-H. P. brake
Speed of Motor — 400 R. P. M.
Number of Cylinders — One
Fuel — Kerosene or gasoUne

Speed — 2 miles per hour
Total Length — Inches, 135
Total Width — Inches, 56
Total Height — Inches, 61
Weigh'p— 5,000 lbs.

FARM POWER 89

TITAN 10-20 H. P. KEROSENE TRACTOR

Lieneral Purpose, Light Farm Tractor

This is a kerosene-burning light tractor, designed for all drawbar
and belt work requirements on the average farm.

Power Plant: T^in-cj'linder, valves in head, enclosed crank, oil-burning
engine, built in units so that one section can be removed at a time, ex-
posing a considerable part of the engine for examination without detach-
ing numberless smaU parts.

Governor: Fly-ball, throttUng governor, running in enclosed case.

Ignition: Jump spark. The operating current is supplied b}' a built-in
high-tension magneto, with accelerator for starting — no batteries re-
quired.

Mixer: Special design, handhng kerosene, distillate do^\Ti to 39 degrees
Baume, as well as gas oil, solar oil, motor spirits, naptha, and gasohne.

Cooling System: Water cooled, circulating from a tank holding 39 gallons.

Lubrication: All working parts including rear truck bearings are oiled by
force feed lubricators.

Transmission: Two-speeds ahead and one reverse by sliding gear trans-
mission, controlled by one lever. The gears run in oil and are entirely
enclosed. Forward speeds, 1-85 miles, 2.50 miles per hour. Reverse,
2.50 miles per hour.

Double Chain Drive: Chain drive to both rear wheels, ehminating gears,
giving a more even and flexible distribution of power than by any other
system.

Steering: Automobile type with hand wheel and specially designed steering
knuckle, making control positive and easy under all conditions.

Brake: Foot power brake by contacting bands acting on both rear wheels.
Equipped with ratchet lock for blocking.

Specifications

Power — 10 H. P. di'awbar Total Length (with seat)—

20 H. P. brake 147 inches

Speed of Motor — 500 R. P. M. Total Width — 60 inches
Number of Cylinders — 2 (Twin) Total Height — (16^4 inches
Fuel — Kerosene or gasoline ^^'EIGHT — 5225 pounds

Speeds — 1.85 and 2.50 miles per hour.
Reverse 2.50

90

FARM POWER

MOGUL 12-25.H. P. KEROSENE TRACTOR

Medium Weight General Purpose Tractor

This is a medium weight kerosene-burning tractor with ample horse
power to do the work on all excepting the very largest farms.

Power Plant: Two-cylinder opposed kerosene-burning engine of simple
design, developing 25-H. P. on the brake.

Ignition: Jump spark ignition is used, the current for which is furnished
by the Wyco ignition system. No batteries are needed.

Mixers: A mixer is furnished for each cyhnder. These are the famous Mogul
oil mixers that operate successfully in kerosene and heavier fuels. Re-
cent reports from twenty points in different states show a wide spread
between the cost of gasoline and kerosene in favor of kerosene. From
indications kerosene will remain much cheaper than gasoline. The
kerosene-burning feature of these tractors enables you to use the fuel
that is the cheapest.

Cooling: Water-coolod by a special hea\'y duty tj-pe radiator, through which
water is circulated by plunger type pump.

Starting: A crank with friction wheel makes turning of the flywheel easy.

Lubrication: Crankshaft, connecting rod bearings, and pistons lubricated
by a 6-feed mechanical oiler.

Transmission: Transmission is of the sUding gear type with two speeds for-
ward and one reverse. Gears enclosed in dust-tight case and run in oil.
Chain drive is used from engine crankshaft to countershaft.

Steering: Steering mechanism is of the worm and sector type.

Cab: The steel cab is removable, so that the tractor can be made low enough
to go under the trees in the orchard. Tractor can be operated from cub,
as all levers are within easy reach of the operator's seat.

Specifications

Power — 12-H. P. drawbar —

25-H. P. brake
Speed of Motor — 500 R. P. M.
Nu.MBER OF Cylinders — Two —

opposed
Fuel — Kerosene or gasoUne

Speed — 2 and 3 miles per hour
Total Length — Inches, 162
Total Width — Inches, 81
Total Height — Inches, 100
Weight— 10,000 lbs.

FARM POWER

Q|

TITAN 15-30-H. P. KEROSENE TRACTOR

A Medium Size All-Purpose Farm Motor

This 15-30 Titan tractor is a light weight, powerful, kerosene
tractor, that wiU do all the heavy work and belt work on most farms.
Four-Cylinder Motor: The engine is of the four-cylinder type, set hori-
zontal across the machine, so that power is delivered direct through spur
gears without bevel gear. Four-cylinder design and low speed ehminate
vibration. Completely enclosed in dust-tight crank case with remov-
able cover.

Mixer: One mixer with two fuel needle valves and a single water needle valve
is used, which reduces adjustments to the minimum. This mixer will
handle any of the cheap fuels, such as kerosene, distillate down to 39 de-
grees Baume, gas oil, solar oil, motor spirits, gasohne, or naphtha.

Governor: A fly-baU throttling type governor controls amount of fuel enter-
ing cylinders in proportion to the load.

Ignition: The ignition is jump spark, current being furnished by high-grade

gear driven magneto — no battery equipment.
Lubrication: Motor is lubricated by automatic force feed oiler with twelve

feeds. Transmission is lubricated by another automatic force feed oiler

with five feeds.
Cooling: The motor is water-cooled, circulation through cylinders and a

vertical tube radiator being secured by a belt-driven rotary pump.
Transmission: Two speeds forward and one reverse, all controlled by a

single lever. Gears run in oil. Double chain drive to rear wheels.

Chains tightly encased.

Steering: Automobile type.

Specifications

Power — 15-H. P. drawbar—

30-H. P. brake
Speed of Motor — 575 R. P. M.
Number of Cylinders — Four

Fuel — Kerosene or gasoline
Speeds — 1.8 and 2.4 miles per hour

and reverse
Weight— 9,500 lbs.

92

FARM POWER

TITAN 30.60.H. P. KEROSENE TRACTOR

The Most Powerful Titan Built

Here is the machine for power, for endurance, long hours under a
hea^^ load day after day. It's the tractor for plowing a large acreage,
running big threshing outfits, and heavy road work. With all its im-
mense power it is not clumsy or hard to handle.

Power Plant: A twin cylinder 60-H. P., four-cycle engine, simple in con-
struction, with all parts accessible, furnishes power. Engine enclosed
by a sheet metal case.

Cooling: The engine is water-cooled by means of radiator and a centrifugal
type circulating pump.

Ignition: Current for ignition is furnished by a magneto, gear driven from
the cam shaft. Batteries are furnished for easy starting.

Governor: Fly-ball, spring controlled throtthng type operating a butterfly
valve in the intake manifold.

Mixer: Specially designed for operation on low grade fuels. Will handle
kerosene, distillate, solar oil, gas oil, gasohne, motor spirits, and naphtha
equally well.

Transmission: By gears from crankshaft to main axle. Reverse accom-
plished by means of shding gears.

Oiling: A 10-feed mechanical oiler lubricates all the engine bearings and
cylinders. Another 4-feed mechanical oiler lubricates the gears only.

Steering: Automobile type .steering device.

Operating Levers: Only two operating levers, one for throwing the clutch
in and one for reverse. Brake is operated by a foot pedal below the steer-
ing wheel.

Specifications

Power — 30-H. P. drawbar —

60-H. P. brake
Speed of Motor — 425 R. P. M
Number of Cylinders — Two

Fuel — Kerosene or gasoline
Speed — 2.8 miles per hour
Weight-— 20,300 lbs.

^^ INDEX

PART I.

Determining Factors of Crop Production ^*J ^^V

Value of Farm Land 1 4

Value of Farm Labor 2 4

Price of Horses 3 5

PART II.

Horses as Farm Motive Power

Importance of Horse Labor 4

Items in Cost of Horse Labor 5

Interest Chart»-es 6

Depreciation Charg-es 7

Harness Use and Depreciation 8

Shoeing Cost 9

Feed 10

Labor 11

Cost of Shelter... 12

Miscellaneous Expenses 13

Maintenance Cost 1904-1907 14

Maintenance Cost 1908-1912 15

Maintenance Cost 1914 16

Number Hours Horse Works 17

Horse Labor Cost per Hour 18

Acreage to Feed One Horse 19

Acreage to Feed All Horses 20

Unnecessary Horses on Farms 21

Profit to be Made from Horse Feed 22

Why Horse Labor is Expensive ; 23

Horse a Low Efficiency Motor 24

Used in Small Power Units 25

Requires Expensive Man Labor 26

Number Horses Required on Farms 27

Efficiency of Horses 28

Power Delivered by a Horse 29

Definition Mechanical Horse Power 30

Summary of Farm Horse Labor 31

PART III.

The Tractor as a Farm Motive Power

Necessity for a Cheaper Power 32

Development of Big Tractors 33

Development of Small Tractors 34

Oil Tractor Rating 35

Supplanting Horses by a Tractor 36

Demand for Good Horses 37

Reports from Tractor Owners 38

Number of Horses Sold from Farms 39

Horses on 160-acre Farm 40

Tractor on 160-acre Farm 41

Doing Farm Work at Right Time 42

PART IV.

Advantages of Kerosene -Burning Tractors

Tractor Horse Power vs. Animal Horse Power 43

Difference between Kerosene and Gasoline 44

Production of GasoHne 45

"eat Units in Kerosene and Gasoline 46

Kerosene as Engine Fuel 47

Expense of Operating Kerosene Tractor 48

Safety of Kerosene and Gasoline 49

9
9
9

10
10
10
10
12
12
12
13
13
14
15
15
16
16
16
17
18
18
19

21
23
24

24
25
25
26

28
28
30
34

36
37
37
38
38
39
39

FARM POWER 95

INDEX — Cont.

Results of Government Investigation

First Cost of Tractor

Pulling- Capacity of Tractor

Cost of Operating Small Tractor

Cost of Tractor Horse Power at Drawbar

Cost of Tractor Horse Power at Belt

Comparison between Horses and Tractor

Tractor is Always Ready

Tractor is One-Man Outlit

Time Spent Looking After Tractor

Cost of Housing Tractor

Packing the Soil

Life of Oil Tractor

Tractors have Double L^se

Work a Tractor Will Do

Par.

pHjre

No.

No.

50

40

51

40

52

40

53

41

54

41

55

4-2

42

5(5

43

57

44

58

45

59

45

60

46

61

47

62

47

63

48

PART V.

Plowing With an Oil Tractor

Plowing

Cost of Horse Labor to Plow

Tractor Cost to Plow

Our Country's Annual Plowing Bill

Saving by Plowing with Tractors

Quality of Work Done by Tractor

Draft of Plows

To Determine Drawbar Pull of Tractor

To Determine !Xumber of Bottoms Pulled

Conditions Affecting Plowing

Plowing Continuous Furrows

Back Furrowing

Plowing at Various Speeds 76-

PART VI.

Field and Road Work with Oil Tractor

Harvesting with an Oil Tractor

Cost of Harvesting

Acreage Disked

Acreage Harrowed

Acreage Drilled

Acreage Harvested with Corn Binders

Acreage Harvested w ith Grain Binders

Acreage Mowed

Hay Acreage Loaded

Corn Acreage Planted

Corn Acreage Cultivated

Draft of Wagons

Cost of Hauling with Horses

Cost of Hauling with Oil Tractor

Farmers' Annual Hauling Bill

Oil Tractor for Road Work

Power Reciuired to Operate Machines

Tractor Hitches for Field L^se ii5-116

Awards Received at Expositions

Mogul 8-16

Titan 10-20

Mogul 12-25

Titan 15-30

Titan 30-60

64

53

65

53

66

54

67

54

68

64

69

56

70

56

71

58

72

58

73

59

74

59

to

60

-77

64

78

65

79

66

80

67

81

67

82

67

83

67

84

68

85

68

86

68

87

69

88

69

89

69

90

70

91

71

92

72

93

72

94

73

16

74

87

88

89

90

91

92

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