Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1911 — Making Life on Farm Easier [ARTICLE]

Making Life on Farm Easier

if ACHINES that almost think” iVJL is a term that may with reason be applied to many forms of improved farm machinery wherein human control has truly been reduced to a minimum. The machines perform their various functions automatically, almost as if they had minds of their own. About all the operator has to do is to feed and to steer them. - \

For instance, the “broadcast seeder,” which is employed for planting grass and grain. This is attached to an ordinary wagon. The only human co-operation it requires is the keeping of its hopper full. It will also distribute all manner of dry commercial fertilizers, putting them precisely where they will be of the utmost benefit.

For such grains as must be planted systematically in rows or in hills, there is provided a v mechanlcal grain drill. Among Its numerous attachments may be mentioned a land measurer, something like a cyclometer, which records the acreage planted. To cover the seed that it has planted it has a system of hoes that are adjusted to work straight or “zig-zag.” A variant of this apparatus weeds as well as sows. Another remarkable farm machine that comes within the category of “thinking” apparatus is the bean planter. It drills the hole in the ground, plants the beans, covers them, and marks the position of the next row at one operation. It will even alternate corn with beans, turn and turn about', or plant corn in place of beans, distribute fertilizer, and cover everything impartially. The potato planter picks up the potato and looks it over;' or seems to, cuts it into halves, quarters or any number of parts, separates the eyes, and removes the seed ends. It plants whole potatoes or parts of them as near together or as far apart as the judgmen{ of the man on the driving seat suggests. Having dropped the seed, it covers it, fertilizes if, tucks it In like a youngster put to bed, and measures off the next row mathematical accuracy. Certain vegetables, notably tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, and some others, need to be started in cold frames' and transplanted for the practical business of growing. For this purpose there is a plant setting machine that will handle a sprout with an almost loving care, establish It in its new environment, gather the earth tenderly about its roots, and give it a copious drink of water from a tank it carries. It will cover from four to six acres a day.

The various operations generally known as “cultivating” were once the bane of the farmer's existence. Now he has s machine for each operation of crop tending, with s driver’s seat as comfortable aa that of a motor car. The machines seem to know a weed from a crop plant, and while they will snatch the weed out by the roots they pahs the plant unharmed, provided, 01 course, it is growing In its proper place. When the crop la ready tar gathering, American mechanism is.at its best The perfection of the modern reaper and hinder needs no comment.