Vol. XVI. No. 401. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



28.5 



FARMING BY MOTOR: ALL ABOUT FARM 

 TRACTORS AND MOTOR PLOUGHING. Temple 

 Press, Ltd., 71.5 Roseberry Avenue, London, E.C. Price 

 Is. 6d. 



The questioD of substituting mechanical motors for 

 mules and cattle for hauling ploughs and other farm imple- 

 ments is attracting wide attention; the appearance of this 

 little work is, therefore, extremely opportune. 



After discussing the general aspect of the case as regards 

 the need for economical motors in farming practice, the book 

 deals with the capabilities of the farm motor tractor, subse- 

 quent chapters deiling with types of farm motors, the 

 question whether motor tractors or motor ploughs are most 

 desirable, and the quantity of work done by motor po^ye^. 

 These questions are largely discussed from the point of view 

 of the present needs of British farming. 



What will perhaps prove of greatest interest to West 

 Indian readers is that section of the book which makes 

 reference to types of farm motors, and gives brief specifica- 

 tions of typical machines. As is stated in the introduction 

 to this section, the machines selected are solely illustrations 

 of types, not necessarily the best obtainable. When the type 

 most suitable for local conditions has been selected, particu- 

 lars of that type can be obtained from the manufacturers 

 or agents. Twenty-two types of machines are thus illus- 

 trated and described; they are for the most part motors of 

 moderate power, ranging from about 18-30 b.h.p., though in 

 one instance a 70 b.h.p. motor is described. 



This book is calculated to be of material service to 

 West Indian readers in view of the great interest that 

 attaches to mechanical means of hauling ploughs, cultivators, 

 and weed machines. It contains much that is suggestive 

 and instructive. 



In connexion with the foregoing, reference may be made 

 to a more powerful type of tractor than the majority described 

 in the book above-mentioned; this is the Caterpillar Tractor 

 made in two sizes, namely, 4.5 and 75 b.h.p., by the Holt 

 Manufacturing Co. of Peoria, Illinois. This tractor, like the 

 Bullock Creeper and the Martin tractors described in the 

 book 'Farming by Motor', travels upon a creeper or endless 

 track, instead of upon wheels; this ensures a wide distribu- 

 tion of weight, whereby the machines are enabled to travel 

 over irregular or soft ground. 



VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE 



UNITED STATES. 



On February 23, 1917, President Wilson signed the 

 Federal Aid Vocational Education Act, the passing of which 

 marks an important step taken by the Federal Government 

 in its relation to education. Under the new measure, federal 

 appropriations ultimately aggregating over 17,000,000 per 



annum have been made available for co-operation with the 

 several States in the promotion of vocational education in 

 agriculture, the trades and industries, and home economics 

 including the preparation of teachers. 



The most radical innovation in the Act deal.s, as is 

 described in the E.rperiment Station Record, Vol. XXXVI,- 

 No. 8. p. 701, with the method of administration, at the head 

 of which is provided a Federal board for vocational 

 education. In addition to the administration of the Act, 

 it is empowered to m»ke, or have made, investigations and' 

 reports to aid the States in the establishment of vocational 

 schools and classes, and in giving instruction in agriculture 

 and other industries. These investigations are to include 

 agriculture and agricultural processes, and the require- 

 ments of agricultural workers, and similar inquiries into 

 the principles and problems connected with other industries, 

 and with courses of study and instruction in vocational 

 subjects. 



To co-operate with the Federal board in carrying out 

 the Act, each State when accepting its provisions is to 

 designate a State board of at least three members, while, in 

 the discretion of the central board, the studies concerning 

 agriculture may be made in co-operation with or through 

 the Department of Agriculture. 



The State board has to prepare plans for the approval of 

 the Federal board, showing the details of the work for which 

 it is expected to use the appropriations. 



The plans of expenditures for salaries in agricultural sub- 

 jects mu.st, in addition, show that the controlling purpose of 

 the education is to fit students for useful employment, that the 

 training is less than college grade, and that it is designed to 

 meet the needs of persons over fourteen years of age who have 

 entered upon, or who are preparing to enter upon, the work 

 of the farm or of the farm home. The State, or local 

 community, must provide the necessary plant and e<juipment, 

 including a school farm or other farm for use at least 

 (luring six months per year of supervised practice in 

 agriculture, as well as contribute one-half the expendi- 

 ture for the salaries of the agricultural teachers and 

 supervisors. Except that no provision is made for the 

 federal payment of the salaries of supervisors or directors, 

 the requirements in other industries are similar to those laid 

 down for agriculture. 



The training of teachers and supervisors is restricted 

 to persons who have had adequate vocational experience 

 in the line of work for which they are preparing themselves, 

 or are acquiring such qualifications as a part of their training. 



Although a Federal board, closely linked with the 

 Bureau of Education, has been created, each State is left free 

 to establish a separate system, or to make the vocational 

 schools and courses a part of its existing schools; the great 

 advantage being that, probably, different plans will be 

 adopted in the different States, and that thus there will be 

 many experimental efforts to solve the problems of vocational 

 education. 



The training of teachers, to be provided for under the 

 Act, will throw a heavy burden of responsibility on the 

 higher technical institutions, and particularly on the agricul- 

 tural colleges, which have not, up to the present, paid much 

 attention to the training of teachers for secondary schools of 

 the strictly vocational type. There is, therefore, great incen- 

 tive for men of original thought and inventive skill to enter 

 this comparatively new field. 



Progress under the provisions of the new Act seems 

 likely to be awaited with unusual interest throughout the 

 world. Especially as at this time attention is being focussed 

 as never before, upon all that pertains to agricultural and 

 industrial efficiency as an element of national preparedness. 



