FARM EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRACTOR. 
25 
COMBINATION WORK. 
The percentage of tractor owners who reported combination work 
with their tractor, i. e., performing two or more operations at one 
time, such as plowing and harrowing, was much smaller than 
might have been expected. The figures in connection therewith for 
the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and California are 
shown in Table XV. From this it would seem that combination work 
is practiced considerably less in the semiarid regions than in the more 
humid sections, although the total number of owners who attempt 
other operations than plowing and harrowing at the same time is very 
limited. 
There are several reasons for this lack of combination work. 
Usually there is not much excess power available for other imple- 
ments if the plow is the full width of the tractor, and, too, additional 
implements require more attention and this frequently causes more 
delays, a stop for one implement meaning a stop for the entire outfit. 
Table XV. — Use of farm tractors for combination work in the States of North Dakota, 
South Dakota, Iowa, and California. 
Number 
reported. 
State. 
Using plows only. 
Using plows and 
harrows. 
Using plows, har- 
rows, and drills. 
Number. 
Per cent. 
Number. 
Per cent. 
Number. 
Per cent. 
266 
Men having one season's ex- 
perience: 
North Dakota 
155 
47 
19 
10 
140 
30 
4 
6 
68 
19 
4 
2 
22 
19 
5 

58.3 
57.3 
23.2 
22.7 
53.4 
50.9 
11.8 
22.2 
54.8 
48.7 
23.5 
13.3 
40.0 
50.0 
55. 6 
106 
35 
63 
34 
118 
29 
29 
20 
52 
18 
13 
12 
32 
18 
4 

39.8 
42.7 
76.8 
77.3 
45.1 
49.1 
85.3 
74.1 
42.0 
46.2 
76.5 
80.0 
58.2 
47.4 
44.4 
5 



4 

1 
1 
4 
2 

1 
1 
1 


1 9 
82 
South Dakota 
82 
Iowa 
44 
California 
262 
Men having two seasons' ex- 
perience:' 
North Dakota 
1.5 
59 
South Dakota 
34 
Iowa 
2.9 
27 
3.7 
124 
Men having three seasons' ex- 
perience: 
3 2 
39 
South Dakota 
5.1 
17 
15 
6.7 
55 
Men having four seasons' ex- 
perience: 
1 8 
38 
2.6 
9 

But the principal reason is probably the fact that it is difficult to 
have the implements follow each other in proper alignment, especially 
on curves and at corners, which causes poor work to be done. This is 
especially true in drilling, and most farmers prefer to do this work 
with horses in order to have it done properly. The harrowing is not 
so important, as ground missed by it does not so materially affect the 
crop and does not show after the crop has grown. There is a distinct 
advantage in the case of many soils in having the harrowing done 
promptly, yet it appears, considering the four States as a whole, that 
only about 52 per cent of tractor owners pull harrows with the plows. 
