CHAPTER I 



DEFINITIONS AND MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES 



13. Agricultural engineering is the name given to the 

 agricultural achievements which require for their execu- 

 tion scientific knowledge, mechanical training, and engi- 

 neering skill. 



It has been but quite recently that departments have 

 been organized in agricultural colleges to give instruction 

 in agricultural engineering. The name is not as yet uni- 

 versally adopted, the term farm mechanics or rural en- 

 gineering being preferred by some. It is hoped that in 

 time "agricultural engineering" will be generally accepted, 

 as it seems to be the broadest and most appropriate term 

 to be given instruction defined as above. Implement 

 manufacturers in Europe have been pleased to call them- 

 selves agricultural engineers, and the term is not alto- 

 gether a new one. 



Agricultural engineering embraces such subjects as: 

 (i) farm machinery, (2) farm motors, (3) drainage, 

 (4) irrigation, (5) road construction, (6) rural architec- 

 ture, (7) blacksmithing, and (8) carpentry. 



14. Farm machinery. Part I. of this treatise, after the 

 present chapter of definitions and mechanical principles 

 and chapters on the transmission of power and the 

 strength of materials, will be a discussion of the con- 

 struction, adjustment, and operation of farm machinery, 

 and will include the major portion of the implements and 

 machines used in the growing, harvesting, and preparing 

 of farm crops, exclusive of those used in obtaining power. 

 These will be considered in Part II. under the title of 



