PLOWING IN DRY AREAS 135 



costly to propel it over the loose soil. In some instances 

 the compaction resulting from the great weight of the 

 wheels may do harm. In some countries of Europe the 

 engines are stationary and are placed at each end of the 

 field. Plows, harrows and seeders are drawn over the 

 land by the aid of cables. The comparative merits of 

 these and of traction engines has not yet been proved in 

 America. 



BREAKING WITH STEAM POWER, STARK COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA. 

 Courtesy Northern Pacific Railway Co. 



Engines propelled by gasoline and kerosene power 

 will probably be used to a greater extent on the dry 

 farm than those propelled by steam, especially after the 

 land has been broken. But these also in some instances 

 compress the land overmuch, through the weight of 

 their ponderous wheels. Yet again in other instances, 

 such compression may be -beneficial, as when moisture 



