18 
BULLETIN 174, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
GASOLINE AND KEROSENE TRACTORS. 
In view of the fact that the groups of owners who gave favorable 
reports regarding the tractor invariably showed a larger percentage 
of kerosene tractors than did the groups reporting unfavorably, it 
was thought desirable to make a comparison of these two type's of 
tractors, in order to ascertain what difference, if any, existed between 
them. Table IX shows this comparison. 
This table was prepared entirely from figures furnished by tractor 
owners located in North Dakota who had used their tractors for two 
seasons. This was done for the reason that it was not considered 
advisable to give too much weight to the reports furnished by men 
who had used their tractors but one season and were therefore not 
fully qualified to express reliable opinions. Nor was it considered 
fair to the tractor to include reports from men who had purchased 
tractors three or more seasons ago, and who were therefore basing 
their opinions largely on less efficient models than those now on the 
market. While the tractors which have been in use for two seasons 
are not quite so efficient as those sold during 1913, the difference is 
not so great as exists between the earlier models and those which have 
been used two seasons. 
Table IX. — Comparison of gasoline and kerosene tractors on farms in North Dakota, 
prepared from reports of owners with two seasons' experience. 
Item of comparison. 
Number of tractors reported 
Owners stating that tractor is a good investment per cent.. 
Life of tractor (estimated) years. . 
Annually used days. . 
Average time spent in the field per day hours. . 
Time lost per day for repairs, etc do 
Average drawbar rating of tractors horsepower. . 
Average size of farms acres. . 
Number of horses kept: 
Before purchase of tractor 
After purchase of tractor 
Average number of horses displaced 
Owners who do custom w T ork per cent. . 
Owners doing custom work who find it profitable do. . . . 
Average cost of tractor dollars. . 
Average cost of repairs required: 
First season do 
Second season do 
Average value of special equipment purchased do 
Price received per acre for plowing do 
Price received per acre for breaking do 
Data from owners of 
tractors. 
Gasoline. 
Kerosene. 
127 
94 
28 
39 
5.9 
6.9 
82 
88 
13 
13 
2.2 
1.9 
24.6 
23.0 
841 
866 
15.8 
17.8 
11.6 
12.3 
4.2 
5.5 
69 
74 
47 
67 
i 2,573.00 
2,469.00 
61.00 
33.00 
123.00 
81.00 
692. 00 
734. 00 
1.87 
1.88 
3.54 
3.56 
It is believed that the comparison made in Table IX is the fairest 
and most reliable which it is possible to make, and a similar method 
has been used in preparing several of the tables that follow. 
From the comparison made, it will be seen that the figures are 
slightly in favor of the kerosene tractor in almost every case, the 
