720 The Lincoln Tractor Trials, 1920. [Nov., 



The ploughing tests were easily performed on the light land 

 by all classes of machines. Every machine appeared to com- 

 plete its work in practically the same time, and the result 

 approached a fairly high standard. In the case of the 

 ploughing on heavy land the large number of competitors 

 did not permit of each class working the same field. The com- 

 peting tractors were put to work in three fields, and there was 

 a considerable difference between them in the strength of the 

 soil. The light machines in Class 1 found the work difficult, 

 and, in fact, failed to plough at the required depth. The water 

 in their radiators appeared to be constantly at boiling point, 

 and often the draught registered per furrow in this land was 

 as heavy as 900 lb. , sometimes reaching 1,0001b. The machines 

 were incapable of pulling a constant load of over 600 1b. per 

 furrow with three furrows. Undue strain was evident upon 

 the machines, and the representatives in this class certainly 

 took a serious risk in attempting this heavy task. The per- 

 formance of other classes in the ploughing competition calls 

 for no special comment, and will be discussed in the article 

 which it is proposed to publish after the Judges' Eeport is 

 issued. 



The trial included a barn-yard machinery test, which 

 appeared, however, to be limited to a brake load test equivalent 

 to the power necessary to drive a 4 ft. 6 in. threshing drum. 

 The object was clearly to ascertain roughly whether a machine 

 was capable of driving farmyard machinery. To give results 

 of real value, however, it would be necessary to arrange a 

 comprehensive brake horse power test, including the determina- 

 tion of rated load, varying load, maximum load and half load, 

 in relation to fuel consumption, horse-power, hours per 

 gallon, &c. It must be recognised, however, that such a 

 test would require more equipment than was on the ground. 



A hauling test was conducted on a hilly road of good surface 

 with a fairly sharp gradient. Many failures occurred, due 

 invariably to the wheels slipping, and not to lack of power. 

 Many of the machines were not equipped for such a test, and 

 ra-n on smooth wheels, sometimes failing on a gradient of 

 1 in 9.8. Machines equipped with wood blocks and rubber 

 treads found no difficulty in ascending the hill. 

 /; Various other tests were made to show the efficiency of the 

 machines under all conditions. i 



"Self-contained Machines. — It was observed that these 

 machines were regarded very favourably by many attending 



