1920.] 



Farm Power Problems. 



203 



1. Testing and Rating of Farm Tractors. — This head will 

 cover field and laboratory tests for the purpose of determining 

 the belt or brake horse power and the drawbar horse power, 

 as well as the fuel consumption of the tractor. Tests will 

 be made under varying load conditions, probably at half and 

 full load as rated by the manufacturer and also at the maximum 

 load that can be developed. The tractors will be operated 

 at the speeds recommended by the manufacturer. There 

 will be an endurance test for the purpose of showing any defects 

 that may exist, and also for determining whether the rated 

 load can be secured under conditions of continuous operation. 

 It is proposed to issue a card showing the rating of tractors. 



2. Determining the Working Rating of Horses. — Under this 

 head it is proposed to make controlled tests to determine 

 the possibilities and limiting factors in relation to the generation 

 of power b}'- horses of different types. When such preliminary 

 work has been so far carried out as to indicate what type of 

 horse is most efficient as a power unit, teams of such types 

 should be studied in adequate numbers at different points 

 to determine the extent to which age, weight, temperament, 

 sex, condition, soundness, climate, topography, overload, 

 speed, and feed affect the efiicienc\' of horses as power units. 



3. Measurement of Power Requirements of Machines and 

 Implements. — Studies will be carried on to determine the power 

 required to operate the principal types of field and stationary 

 macliinery under the varying conditions arising in farming 

 practice.^ Ploughs and other tillage implements will be operated 

 in connection with a dynamometer, and the power required 

 to pull the given sizes in various kinds of soil and at different 

 depths of tillage will be determined. Stationar}^ macliines, 

 such as ensilage cutters, feed grinders, grain separators, etc., 

 will be tested to determine the power that must be delivered 

 to the belt wheel of the machine and the most effective speed 

 of operation. 



4. Development of Practical Methods of expanding the Power 

 of Farm Horses. — These investigations should have reference 

 to the economy, efficiency, and more complete utilisation 

 of the horse power existing on the farm, including the use of 

 4-, 6-, and 8-horse teams ; to the use of horses in every possible 

 way as auxiliar\^ power units, including the use of hitches ; 

 and to the utilisation of large machinery, such as 2- and 3-bottom 

 gang ploughs, double-disk harrows, culti-packers, 2-row culti- 

 vators, large mowers, rakes, binders, and hay loaders. 



