40 BULLETIN 114, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The physical condition of the land determines largely the degree of 

 success which can be obtained with a tractor. The ideal conditions 

 are large, level fields, free from obstructions, such as trees, stumps, 

 rocks, holes, and ditches, with a soil firm enough to furnish a solid 

 footing for the drive wheels, jet not sufficiently hard to make an exces- 

 sive draft on the plows. 



"But the most important qualification is efficient management and 

 operation. This has been touched upon, but can not be overempha- 

 sized. For the operator to be able to start and stop the motor and to 

 steer the outfit skillfully is not enough. He must understand his 

 tractor thoroughly, and not only be able to locate quickly any trouble 

 which occurs and remedy the same promptly, but he must be capable 

 of avoiding a great many of the troubles commonly experienced with 

 tractors, by frequent inspection of the bearings, ignition system, etc., 

 thus keeping them in first-class condition at all times. 



Xot only in the actual operation of the tractor does the efficient 

 tractioneer contribute to the success of the outfit, but by carefully 

 studying the work to be done and planning it so as to allow the trac- 

 tor to work to the greatest advantage at all times. If the land is 

 roiling he will so lay out his work that the tractor will ascend on the 

 easiest grades and descend on the steepest. If the farm is laid out 

 in square or irregular fields he will replan it so as to have the fields 

 as long as possible, thus lessening the number of turns which will be 

 required. He will fill in holes and ditches where practicable and 

 remove obstructions in order to facilitate the tractor's work. He 

 will recognize the fact that work can not be done with a tractor in 

 exactly the same manner as with horses, and to attempt to do so is 

 not only unfair to the tractor but is inviting failure. In many cases 

 a change in crop rotation will be of great advantage. Where a 

 tractor is used the crops raised should be such as can be planted and 

 harvested with the tractor, thus reducing the number of horses which 

 must be kept. 



The necessity of having tractor owners properly trained for the 

 operation of their outfits has been recognized by most manufac- 

 turers, and several have established schools for their customers 

 where they can be instructed by experts in the care and operation of 

 the tractor. The tractor salesmen have also realized that in selling 

 outfits to men who are incompetent to operate them they are not 

 only injuring their own interests, but those of the tractor trade in 

 general. 



A number of agricultural colleges have added courses in tractioneer- 

 ing, and there are several privately conducted tractor schools. It is 

 believed that most farmers who. contemplate purchasing a tractor 

 would find it well worth while to take a short course in tractioneering 



