1920.] 



The Lincoln Tractor Trials, 1920. 



717 



Tractor Wheels in Furrow. — While it maybe-doubted whether 

 it is in every way desirable to have one of the tractor wheels 

 running in the furrow, it was observed that when this is the 

 case the tractor is more or less self-steering, and allows the 

 operator to direct more attention to the plough. The furrow 

 wheels, however, should be of such a width as not to 

 necessitate the making of too wide a furrow. 



New Improvements and New Machines. — It is not necessary 

 to give a detailed description of the machines which took 

 part in the trials, particularly since the great majority were 

 competing last year. It may be remarked generally that a 

 good deal of attention has evidently been given to points of 

 detail with a view to ease m handling and saving of wear- 

 and-tear. 



With one or two exceptions ail machines included brakes, 

 and attention has been paid to springing. There were very 

 few exposed gear drives, and in most instances vital parts were 

 fully enclosed, although with due regard to the need for 

 accessibility. In most machines provision had been made for 

 alteration of drawbar connection in a horizontal direction, but 

 all had not been provided with easy adjustment in a vertical 

 direction, and those not so provided suffered in consequence. 



Another point to which some manufacturers had paid attention 

 was the application of a spring appliance for minimising the strain 

 on the machine when the plough struck an earth-fast stone. 

 A release device might have been incorporated with this 

 appliance, to detach completely the plough under the strain 

 of a heavy shock. Such an appliance should, however, be an 

 integral part of the tractor, and not merely a casual device 

 inserted in the drawbar connection. 



" Many machines were obviously too complicated for the 

 ordinary farm hand, and the advice given last j'ear, by a 

 well-known farmer, that tractors should be made simple to 

 suit the simple folk in the country, may well be repeated. A 

 remarkable feature possessed by a self-contained machine may 

 be mentioned: it had an electric outfit of a complicated design, 

 which would necessitate handling by an expert mechanic, and 

 the ordinary farm hand would be helpless at the slightest 

 mishap. 



Certain of the machines competing for the first time call 

 for a few words of comment. In this connection it may be 

 remarked that a well-known name is no evidence that a 

 fhachine is designed on the same lines as a namesake of 



