70 PRIMARY RESULTS 



Development of German Agriculture* it has been shown that 

 the production of food per hundred acres in Germany is much 

 greater than in England ; on the other hand, if the number 

 of workers engaged in agriculture be brought into the account 

 it appears that the production per man is fully 20 per cent, 

 higher in this country. It is not desired to discuss the 

 relative merits of large and small holdings here. That small 

 holdings offer certain advantages not afforded by large 

 farms cannot be denied, though probably these are political 

 and social in their nature rather than economic. As long, 

 however, as the great mass of rural workers remain workers 

 for wages, so long will it be necessary for the farm manager 

 to study methods of production which will make the most 

 effective use of their labour as measured by output. 



In the following table is given the cost of a variety of 

 farm operations performed in 1919-20 by a Titan tractor 

 bought in 1919 at a cost of 410. Petrol is used to start 

 it, but as soon as the engine is warm it runs on ordinary 

 paraffin. Records have been kept of the number of days 

 worked, of the labour employed, and of the petrol, paraffin, 

 and lubricant consumed at each class of work. The costs 

 have been analysed under the headings of ' Driver ', 

 * Petrol ', ' Paraffin ', ' Lubricant ', ' Repairs, &c.', and 

 ' Depreciation '. The driver received a weekly wage at 

 about current rates for wages and overtime, being under 

 contract to occupy himself on any farm work at such times 

 as the tractor was not in use, and an additional sum by 

 way of bonus on work done when engaged with the tractor. 

 The bonus was at the rate of Is. per acre for ploughing, 

 4cL per acre for cultivating (any kind), and 3d. per acre for 

 harrowing or rolling. The fuel consumption was recorded from 

 day to day by means of the Tractor Record-sheet already 

 described (see p. 27, ante), and lubricant a very heavy item 

 was recorded in the same way. The item 'Repairs, &c.' 

 covers actual repairs and replacements to the tractor and 

 driver's time on same and on cleaning and casual adjust- 

 ments, together with the comparatively trifling outlay on 



1 Cd. 8305. 



