454 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



In using gasoline engines and oil engines, the fuel tank should 

 be located outside of the building, preferably underground. In 

 Any case the tank must be lower than the pipe to which it is 

 connected in the engine room, so as to prevent flooding the 

 engine. 



The foundation for a gas or an oil engine should be as solid 

 as possible. If the engine is to be set on a wood floor, the tim- 

 bers should be laid on or under the floor and at right angles 

 to the joists. If the engine must be located over another room, 

 it is best to place it in a corner and near the wall. 



594. The electric motor on the farm. If electricity can be 

 bought at a low price, the electric motor is very well suited 

 for some of the farm work. It is not so portable as the gaso- 

 line engine in any but the very small sizes, but a small motor 

 requires no special foundation, is clean and easily started, and 

 requires less care than the gasoline engine. 



For farms of the average size, which do not have the 

 advantage of cheap power from a near-by transmission system, 

 private electric-lighting plants driven by gasoline engines are 

 becoming quite common. 



QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 



1. What is the importance of artificial mechanical power on the farm? 



2. How may mechanical power be produced on the farm? 



3. Discuss the use of the windmill as a means of providing mechanical 

 power. 



4. Where may water motors be successfully used? 



5. Describe the construction of a water motor. 



6. What fuels are most commonly used for mechanical power? 



7. What is the relation of the boiler furnace to the engine cylinder in 

 generating power by means of a steam-power plant ? 



8. Explain briefly the principle of the steam engine. Make a sketch 

 to illustrate your explanation. 



9. Explain briefly the principles of the gas and the oil engines. Illus- 

 trate your explanation by a sketch. 



10. What cautions should be used in selecting and installing an oil engine? 



