Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 19 



machine should be able to plow, harrow, haul loads on roads 

 and fields, handle harvesting machinery both in the field and 

 stationary, burn cheap fuel and work under the trying con- 

 ditions of grade and stones found on most New England farms. 

 J\lany of the tractors now on the market have some of these 

 qualifications and a few have a combination of them. There 

 are none at present which seem to have them all, but judging 

 by the strides which have been made in the last five years the 

 day is not far distant when we shall have a machine which will 

 come up to the requirements of the small farmer. 



The tj'pe of machine at the present time which comes nearest 

 filling the requirements is too expensive for the average farmer 

 to purchase, except in some co-operative way. This type, the 

 Caterpillar, has been tried out under the most exacting con- 

 ditions of soils, climate and grade, and it seems splendidly 

 adapted to the uses of the small New England farm. This 

 machine, and there are several different makes at work in the 

 State, seems to go a long way toward solving the problem of 

 clearing land of trees, rocks and stumps, and of ditching and 

 hauling loads. It seems to be suited to the general work of the 

 farm in fully as many ways as a tractor could be expected to 

 be in farm work. 



That we are going to need the tractor in agriculture is 

 apparent, and to those who are thinking of purchasing, a word 

 of caution should be given. Remember these machines are 

 perishable. The depreciation on all types is great, and es- 

 pecially so on the light machines which are expected to do 

 heavy work. They require skill in handling and care, and 

 unless a farm has work enough to keep one busy a good deal of 

 the time the purchase of such a machine would hardly be con- 

 sidered a good investment. So far as the figures are obtainable 

 at present there are over 100 tractors at work in the State. 



The Milk Situation. 

 The past year has been marked by much agitation and some 

 violence on the part of the farmers for an increased price for 

 their milk throughout the whole country. Chicago was close to 

 a milk famine in June. New York went tlirough one of the worst 

 milk strikes known in its history, and from this strike the 



