196 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF THE FARM MECHANICS SECTION. 



Director R. S. Shaw, 



Dear Sir: 



Following is a report of the experimental and investigational work of the 

 Farm Mechanics section for the year 1920-21. 



The nature of the over-state investigational work which is a part of the pro- 

 gram of this section, has been found difficult to carry out. The men who are 

 on part time on the Experiment Station pay-rolls find their time limited for 

 field work. While this is true on account of teaching schedule, I feel that 

 greater practical returns can be had from this line of effort than from many 

 laboratory experiments which we might make. 



DRAINAGE AND DEVELOPMENT WORK. 



In experimental work in drainage there is splendid opportunity to make a 

 study of performance of drains on the sj^stems installed under the supervision 

 of the extension specialist in drainage in St. Clair county. A contract is 

 practically closed with the Department of Rural Engineering, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, whereby cooperative studies will be made in 

 drainage. Some experimental work in the Upper Peninsula should also be 

 done on the performance of tile drains in their particular soils and climate. 



In view of the work on land clearing which is being started in the Upper 

 Peninsula, some figures should be kept on the essential features and cost of 

 land clearing. It is not felt that an exhaustive study of costs would be 

 profitable because of the widely varying factors entering into individual 

 problems. 



FARM BUILDINGS AND CONVENIENCES. 



A study of potato warehouses for cooperative associations has been made 

 and plans and specifications drawn. Many new building plans have been 

 developed although the work has been delaj^ed through lack of a draftsman. 

 An exhaustive bulletin on farm barns is nearing completion. As indicated 

 by correspondence the interest in the septic tank for farm use is increasing, 

 and plans have recently been developed for a septic tank suitable for summer 

 camps, resorts and county fairs. In cooperation with the Farm Management 

 department surveys will be made the coming year on approximately 100 farms 

 of the farm house, farm kitchen, and farm conveniences. 



TRACTORS AND POWER MACHINERY. 



Investigational work has been in progress during the past year with a 

 view to determining the cost of the various farm tractor operations. For 

 cooperation in this work we are largely indebted to Professor Eliot and Mr. 

 Riddell. Plans are now under way for the testing of oil engines, particularly 

 those engines using the heavier fuels such as kerosene, distillate and fuel oils. 

 In farm machinery, emphasis has been placed on trying out the new ma- 

 chines and new features on machines coming on the market. 



Yours respectfully, 



H. H. MUSSELMAN, 



Professor of Farm Mechanics. 

 East Lansing, Michigan, June 30, 1921. 



