i <uJ 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 174 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
April 15, 1916 
FARM EXPERIENCE WITH 
THE TRACTOR 
By 
ARNOLD P. YERKES, Scientific Assistant, 
and H. H. MO WRY, Assistant Agriculturist, Office 
Farm Management 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction 1 
Designation of Tractors 2 
Steam and Gas Tractors 3 
The Gas Tractor and the Horse .... 4 
Tractor Ratings .. . , 5 
Source of Data 6 
Observations of Business Men .... 7 
Opinions of Tractor Owners 8 
Reports of Satisfied and Dissatisfied 
Owners 10 
Gasoline and Kerosene Tractors ... 18 
Fuel Supply 20 
Fuel Consumption 21 
Lubricating Oil 23 
Cross Section of Plows Drawn and Area 
Plowed by Tractors 23 
Page 
Breaking 24 
Combination Work 25 
Depth of Plowing 26 
Packing Soil by Tractors 27 
Comparison of Different Sizes of Tractors 28 
Size of Farm 30 
Use of Tractors at Night 33 
Custom Work 34 
Repairs 35 
Displacement of Horses by Tractors . . 37 
Conditions Essential to Success with the 
Tractor 39 
Summary 41 
WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1915 
