PRESENT-DAY FARMING 



arrives after harvest — the drivers are able to inter- 

 change with the threshing-machine men. There 

 is one good feature about this kind of tackle, they 

 do not require much housing. Lying around they 

 don't even attract my neighbours, for I seldom get 

 asked to do a job these days. There is only one 

 thing to do, they must be retired gradually and 

 gracefully, such tackle is too expensive. 



The steam-engine still provides the motive power 

 for our threshing-sets, the track-laying tractor is, I 

 know, considered to be ideal for moving threshing 

 machines and their gear about the country together 

 with a gang of men for hiring purposes, but again 

 you are up against an enormous expense when your 

 tractor requires a new track to run on. This makes 

 me hesitate to scrap the old steam-engine ; besides, 

 what would my banker say did I think it right to 

 ask for another £i,ooo overdraft to enable me to 

 bring about the change-over ? 



Now do not let me create the impression that 

 tractors find no place in our scheme of things. I 

 rather like the Fordson on rubber tyres, she is so 

 quick and nippy and most efficient for sweeping 

 the hay ; ploughing, too, she will tackle with her 

 rubber tyres unless the ground is very weather- 

 sodden. When that day arrives, well is it not wise 

 to stand off altogether ? 



Ensilage 



What a burst of popularity seems to have over- 

 taken the making of ensilage ? Why, some of us 



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