1922.] 



333 



motor. Exact measurements (which of course are only possible 

 where electricity is used) have proved that for every 6s. spent 

 in useful work 5s. has to be wasted in useless effort merely in 

 turning the shafting, belts, and loose pulleys. With electricity 

 at 4d. per unit the yearly cost of the power wasted by the shaft- 

 ing is sufficient to buy a new electric motor of 3 to 4 h.p. capa- 

 city. Since the use of a counter-shaft increases the amount 

 of current taken by one to four times that necessary for the usefu 1 

 load, the size of cables used in the wiring must be at least 

 doubled. Again, if storage batteries are used to supply the :oad, 

 their ampere-hour capacity must also be doubled. Not only is 

 the cost of using electric power unnecessarily increased by the 

 counter-shaft, but the capital cost of installing the plant is also 

 much increased. 



Tt is commonly supposed that the advantages of electricity can 

 only be obtained by the large farmer, but the writer is convinced 

 that this view is entirely wrong. While the big farmer uses 

 electricity to supplement the efforts of his labourers, and thereby 

 increase profits, the small-holder, who is usually unable to em- 

 ploy labour, stands in the greatest need of some simple means 

 to increase his productive capacity. Electricity, properly applied, 

 relieves the small-holder of much of the more monotonous work, 

 leaving him free to concentrate on those things which require 

 manual skill and knowledge. The first cost of the electrical 

 equipment is not great. Its earning capacity is much greater 

 than that of any other part of the farm equipment. Every year 

 small-holders quite cheerfully pay large sums for new types of 

 poultry houses and similar plant, in the hope of obtaining in- 

 creased returns. It is very probable that by making their old 

 houses weather-proof, and installing electric light, they would 

 secure much greater returns at a much lower cost. 



WHEAT PRICES AND RAINFALL. 



It is obvious that crops are dependent upon the weather, 

 and perhaps the most important question to which the farmer 

 wants an answer is, " what will be the effect of the weather upon 

 the harvest? " Of scarcely less importance to the farmer is the 

 further question : "What is the weather going to be next year? " 

 Students of the weather have for many years past been endea- 

 vouring, by analysis of past records, to find answers to these 



