Nature-Study Agriculture 



Farming 



with 



tractors 



many farmers are now using tractors, two forms of which, 

 the type that runs on wheels and the " caterpillar " 



A com- 

 parison of 

 tractors and 

 horses 



Use of 

 tractor as a 

 stationary 

 engine 



Reclaiming 



swampy 



land 



Gale Manufacturing Co. 

 FIG. 37. A spike-tooth harrow. 



or " track-layer " type, are coming into wide use (Fig. 

 40). The caterpillar type rests on a chain belt. 

 Having a larger surface to press against, the weight of 

 the engine does not bear so hard at any one point as it 

 would if it were supported on wheels. The caterpillar 

 engine is especially valuable for work on soft land. 

 Either form of tractor will do more work than a team of 

 horses, for it will go faster, pull harder, and work longer 

 hours. A small tractor will do the work of at least four 

 horses. 



The tractor may be used as a stationary engine by 

 connecting it with a belt to other machinery. In this 

 way it can be made to operate a pump, a threshing ma- 

 chine, a silage cutter, or a circular saw. 



Drainage. Marshes and swamps cover considerable 

 areas of the country. The water in them becomes 

 stagnant and foul, making breeding places for mosquitoes ; 

 and though the soil is usually rich, it cannot be farmed 

 because of the water. When properly drained, such 

 land will produce good crops. 



Damp lowland, as well as marsh land, sometimes needs 

 drainage, for the free water in it comes so near to the 



