3o6 



Machinery for Food Production. 



[JULY, 



with the Fordson tractor, the OHver Plow Company designed a 

 special plough, giving every satisfaction when the width of 

 furrow and form of breast had been adapted to English con- 

 ditions. Twenty-five other types of plough were tried with 

 tractors other than Fordson's. Of the Enghsh makes, Ran- 

 somes', Howard's and Saunderson's did very well. Of imported 

 implements used by the Department, Cockshutt's and 

 Hamilton's found most favour. Before the War the few English 

 tractor ploughs in use were of the old rigid type, and the British 

 manufacturer did not quickly realise that the future lay with 

 the self-lift plough. Other implements used with tractors 

 were cultivators, disc harrows, furrow pressers, trailer boxes 

 and small vans. Useful auxiliaries of the supply were lubri- 

 cants and spare parts. 



On heavier land the steam plough was used. Of these 

 there were in England about 500 sets, not employed to the 

 greatest advantage. Steam ploughing was quickly organised 

 so that the sets should be fully employed, especially for breaking 

 up grass land. As there was ample scope for other sets, a 

 contract for 65 steam ploughs was placed, and these were sold 

 to the contractors best able to secure the full employment of 

 the machines. For small fields and hilly land, and to assist 

 small farmers, the Department secured 11,694 horse ploughs, 

 with harness and implements. 



Having assured greater corn production, the Department then 

 made provision for threshing. It was found that the country 

 was not only short of threshing machinery, but that the existing 

 machinery was badly distributed. Four hundred and thirty-six 

 threshing machines were therefore ordered, and the distribution 

 was made more suitable to the prevalent conditions. There was 

 work for still more machinery, but it was impossible to secure the 

 machinery from firms already taxed to the utmost with other 

 work. In harvesting plant there was also a great shortage, 

 and provision had to be made for 6,500 binders, 4,218 of which 

 were used for County Executive Committees and the remainder 

 released for sale. All sales were subject to the approval of 

 the Department, whereby it was ensured that the machines 

 should go to the counties that stood most in need of them. 



The following figures show the machinery, implements 

 and accessories provided by the Department : — 



TO, 80 8 Tractors. 

 10,755 Ploughs. 

 1,677 Cultivators. 



Tractor Scheme. 



Steam Tackle. 

 65 Complete Sets. 

 436 Threshing Machines. 



