EVOLUTION OF FARM-IMPLEMENT INVESTIGATIONS. 213 



but the str(Mi<rtli of matci'iiil of tlu' (lillV'i'cMil parts Avas also iii\o^-ti- 

 gated. P^or the testiii<j: of ordinary iinpU'inonts the inamitactiirer or 

 his agent was required to pay the committee a fee ranging from 5 to 

 15 per cent of the selling price of the machine. 



A number of dilferent makes of implements of the same class were 

 tested in the same field, and a comparison made on the following 

 points: (1) Time required to do a certain work ; (2) efficiency of work 

 done; (3) strength of the machine; (4) construction of machine; (5) 

 power required; and (0) cost of machine and repairs. In ihis way 

 the conunittee could judge of the superiority and could also determine 

 the faults of the various makes of nuichines. The results of the tests 

 were published by the committee as soon after the trial as possible. 

 AVhen individual machines were tested at the request of the jnanufac- 

 turers or their agents, the result of the test might b<- withheld at 

 their request, provided no machines of that kind were offered for sale 

 to the general trade. 



In case no requests were made for the test of certain implements 

 offered for sale, and no response made by manufacturers to the invita- 

 tions for trials of such implements, the committee purchased the im- 

 plements in the open market and made the tests of them, publishing 

 the results along with those of other implements tested. 



DENMARK. 



As early as 18G9 field exhibits were conducted in Denmark, and in 

 1871 a committee of the Royal Danish Agricultural Society was 

 appointed to take charge of field trials of farm implements. Since 

 1892 these trials have been c<mducted annually, and the Danish Gov- 

 ernment has contril)uted $1,340 a j'ear to defray the expenses of these 

 trials. The Danish Government also contributed medals in gold, 

 silver, and bronze as awards for the machines which Avere successful 

 in the general competitive field trials. Since 181)0, however, no 

 awards have been made. The tests are now conducted mostly on im- 

 plements that are new and not well known in the country. In this 

 way the tests prove to be of gi-eat value both to the farmers and to the 

 implement mamifacturers in the introduction of new machinery. 



NORWAY. 



Field trials have been conducted periodically in Norway since 1877, 

 mider the auspices of the Society foi- Norway's AVelfare. The 

 national government supported these investigations to the extent of 

 granting approjM-iations for the purchase of dyiianu)meters and other 

 instruments to be used in the investigations. The results of oidy part 

 of these investigations have been published. 



