18 



BULLETIN 174, U. S. DEPABTMEXT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



GASOLINE AND KEROSENE TRACTORS. 



In view of the fact that the groups of owners who gave favorable 

 reports regarding the tractor invariably showed a larger percentage 

 of kerosene tractors than did the groups reporting unfavorably, it 

 was thought desirable to make a comparison of these two types of 

 tractors, in order to ascertain what difference, if any, existed between 

 them. Table IX shows this comparison. 



This table was prepared entirely from figures furnished by tractor 

 owners located in Xorth Dakota who had used their tractors for two 

 seasons. This was done for the reason that it was not considered 

 advisable to give too much weight to the reports furnished by men 

 who had used their tractors but one season and were therefore not 

 fully qualified to express reliable opinions. Nor was it considered 

 fair to the tractor to include reports from men who had purchased 

 tractors three or more seasons ago, and who were therefore basing 

 their opinions largely on less efficient models than those now on the 

 market. TThile the tractors which have been in use for two seasons 

 are not quite so efficient as those sold during 1913, the difference is 

 not so great as exists between the earlier models and those which have 

 been used two seasons. 



Table IX. — Comparison of gasoline and kerosene tractors on farms in North Dakota, 

 prepared from reports of owners with two seasons' experience. 



Item of comparison. 



Data from owners of 

 tractors. 



J Gasoline. Kerosene 



Number of tractors reported - 



Owners stating that tractor is a good investment per cent. 



Life of tractor (estimated) years. 



Annually used days. 



Average time spent in the field per day hours. 



Time lost per day for repairs, etc- .". . do. . . 



Average drawbar rating of tractors horsepower. 



Average size of farms.' acres. 



Number of horses kept: 



Before purchase of tractor 



After purchase of tractor 



A verage number of horses displaced 



Owners who do custom work percent. 



Owners doing custom work who find it profitable do. . . 



Average cost of tractor dollars. 



Average cost of repairs required: 



First season do. . . 



Second season do. . . 



Average value of special equipment purchased .". do. . . 



Price received per "acre for plowing do. . . 



Price received per acre for breaking do. . . 



127 

 28 

 5.9 

 82 

 13 

 2.2 

 24.6 

 841 



15.8 

 11.6 



4.2 

 69 

 47 

 2.573.00 



61.00 



123.00 



692.00 



1.87 



3.54 



94 

 39 



€.9 

 88 

 13 



1.9 

 23.0 

 866 



17.8 

 12.3 

 5.5 

 74 

 07 

 2, 469. 00 



33.00 



81.00 



734.00 



1.88 



3.56 



It is believed that the comparison made in Table IX is the fairest 

 and most reliable which it is possible to make, and a similar method 

 has been used in preparing several of the tables that follow. 



From the comparison made, it will be seen that the figures are 

 slightly in favor of the kerosene tractor in almost every case, the 



