XXV 



ANIMAL -MECHANICAL TILLAGE 



A FOURTH school insists that the prime idea in 

 mechanical cultivation should by no means be to 

 take implements, which have hitherto been drawn 

 by horses or oxen, and make them self-propelling. 

 Neither would it hold to the present idea of the plow to the 

 extent of blindly retaining those of its characteristics which 

 hinder the use of mechanical power to the best advantage. 

 So efficient are the modern plow and linear motion in turning 

 the earth that any suggestion of improvement takes root 

 slowly. Yet many obstacles have arisen to prevent the wheels 

 of the tractor from being as efficient as the four feet of the 

 animal. No economical engine has the overload capacity of 

 the horse. No horse has the economy of the stationary engine. 

 It is by no means settled that soil may not be better pulverized 

 by other means than the plow. Why not, then, some combina- 

 tion of the tractive advantage of the animal, the superiority 

 of the mechanical motor for stationary work, and some pulveriz- 

 ing device best adapted to the power available for driving it? 



The inanimate or mechanical motor should be used in every 

 case where a simple, uniform, rotary working force is required, 

 such as that produced by the horse in a tread or sweep power. 

 Horses and oxen, dogs and sheep, even men and women are 

 required in Europe to run stationary farm machines by muscle 

 power. The mechanical motor in these countries will enable 

 this work to be done ten times cheaper, and humanely displace 

 the living muscle. In regions where animals are too few in 



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