i FARM MANAGEMENT 25 



the soil is saturated with water. The wrappers are allowed to re- 

 main upon the sticks in wet places. The following charges will be 

 found effective under average ground conditions and where using 

 stump pullers or blocks and teams: 



Diameter of stumps in inches 18 24 30 36 48 60 72 



Sticks of powder 5 7 10 20 35 50 65 



Where the soil is sandy and loose it will require one-half more 

 powder for the same size stump. As this powder does not work well 

 at a temperature below 70 F., it is necessary when using it in cold 

 weather to keep it warm by some method. Some powder men bury 

 the boxes in a manure pile ; others lay it upon a perforated rack over 

 boiling water. As in either of these methods the powder becomes 

 more or less damp from the vapor it is thought that when dry heat 

 is applied better results are obtained. (Bu. Pit. Ind. B. 25; Col. of 

 Wash. B. 93 ; Col. of Wash. B. 101 ; F. B. 381 ; Wash. Ex. Sta. B. 40 ; 

 Univ. Wis. B. 216.) 



THE TRACTION ENGINE IN AGRICULTURE. 



The use of the traction engine in agriculture is rapidly extend- 

 ing. Its use in plowing is of comparatively recent date. 



The opening up of vast tracts of level territory where the acre- 

 age to be broken was so great as to discourage the idea of turning it 

 with single teams and horse plows created a lively demand for steam 

 plowing outfits, and in this field more than any other have they 

 demonstrated their practicability. Under favorable conditions the 

 advantages are numerous. Large areas, which otherwise would have 

 remained uncultivated, have been brought quickly into productive- 

 ness and have been cropped with a minimum of horse and man 

 labor, which has constantly become more expensive. Crop returns 

 have often been greatly increased through taking advantage of fa- 

 vorable soil and climatic conditions for getting the land in shape for 

 seeding, especially in sections where these conditions are of short 

 duration. Work at such times has been rushed, often continuing 

 day and night. At other times, as in hot, dry weather, traction out- 

 fits have been used where horses could stand the work but a short 

 period, if at all. Through concentration of power it has been pos- 

 sible to plow very difficult soils and to plow deeply, when desired, 

 in ordinary soils. 



Under favorable conditions the cost of traction plowing has 

 been brought below that of horse plowing. Considering the total 

 cost of prime mover, shelter, and incidental equipment, and the sur- 

 plus of horses needed to keep a given number in the field, the in- 

 vestment in motive power is frequently reduced by the substitution 

 of engines for horses in plowing, and maintenance during periods 

 of idleness is greatly simplified. 



Plows Used With Engines. Practically all traction plowing is 

 now done with specially designed engine gang plows. These may 

 be divided into the disk and moldboard types, and the latter into 

 steam-lift and hand-lift. Engine gangs present greater variation in 

 type and adaptability than do engines, and this is an important 

 factor in such success as the practice of traction plowing has had. 



