XXVI 



THE GENERAL PURPOSE MOTOR 



UNIVERSAL moto-culture involves the solution 

 of the small farmer's problem. Dreamers argue 

 that the ideal farm is the little farm well tilled, 

 because of the independent home life which it 

 brings. The gas engine will come nearer solving the problem 

 of mechanical power on this ideal farm than steam. The former 

 is much more economical in small units, and in addition its 

 convenience and the possibility of lightness which it brings 

 will make its place secure on the small farm. 



Unless horses continue indefinitely to increase in value, it 

 is doubtful if the durable, all-purpose small tractor will ever 

 be as cheap in first cost as the number of horses it will replace. 

 Moreover, it can never be as economical in various kinds of 

 work. In a team of four horses we have four units, which may 

 be used either singly, in pairs, or all together. Each unit has 

 an overload capacity, as we have seen, of practically 400 per 

 cent. Therefore, we might have a variation anywhere from 

 the f h.p., which one horse will develop continually and 

 economically to the 10 or 12 h.p. which four acting together, 

 might exert at one instant. The gas tractor will operate most 

 economically between 70 to 95 per cent, of its maximum load. 

 All its cylinders must act when one does, and there can be no 

 such wide range of adaptability as will be found in the four- 

 horse team. 



It is doubtful if the really efficient farm tractor can be an 

 all-round machine. The requirements of the farm as to 



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