CHAPTER V.

FARM MACHINERY, FIELD TRIALS, ETC.

By C. V. RILEY.

FIELD TRIALS.

The field trials of the machines in the first group, drills, etc., and the fifth group, harvesting machines, were held near Noisiel, a village of 500 or 600 inhabitants, 25 miles from Paris, on the ferme de Buisson, generally termed the domain of Noisiel, belonging to the widow of M. Menier, the celebrated chocolate manufacturer. In addition to the immense manufactory, the family possess a number of model farms, the estate including altogether 2,500 acres of arable land, irrigated meadows and some woods, and is admirably adapted for such extensive trials.

Madame Menier, as soon as the Exposition of 1889 was resolved upon, informed the then minister of commerce, M. Lockroy, that she would place at the disposal of the exhibitors the agricultural machinery and lands of Noisiel, and offered to plant in any manner that might be pointed out. Her proposals were accepted and the estate was sown to the various crops needed for the trials of mowers, reapers, binders, etc., and portions were prepared for the trials of other machinery.

A colored map of the domain of Noisiel is here given (Map I), on which is indicated the disposal of the land for the various trials.

The trials of insecticide and fungicide machinery, comprising the third group, were held in the vineyard of Mareil-Marley, as it was found impracticable to hold them in the vineyard of Argenteuil (Seine-et-Oise), the place first determined upon.

The second and third groups were tested in Paris, rue Jenner, at the station for the trial of machinery. Dairy apparatus-the fourth group-were tried on the Esplanade des Invalides and on the quai d'Orsay, Paris.

The sixth group, comprising materials and methods for preparing dry fruits, was dropped, owing to the fact that no competitors presented themselves.

The regulations governing these trials were issued May 26, 1889, by P. Tirard, minister of commerce, etc., and were as follows:

[Translation.]

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE PRACTICAL TRIAL AND SPECIAL COMPETITION OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.

ARTICLE 1. The practical trials and special competition of machines and implements of agriculture will take place during the course of the Universal Exposition. The machines and instruments admitted to these trials will be worked under the normal conditions of practice and during a time sufficiently long so that it may be possible to appreciate their merits.

ART. 2. These trials will apply to French and foreign machines belonging to any of the following groups:

I. Drills in lines or hills for cereals, grains of any kind; spreaders and distributers of fertilizers and insecticides.

II. Apparatus to filter wines.

III Insecticide and fungicide apparatus.

IV. Dairy material. Apparatus for the preservation and transportation of milk, for the separation of cream, for the manufacture of butter and cheese; creamers, churns, presses, utensils, etc., rennets, and boxes, etc., for the keeping and shipping of dairy products.

V. Machines for mowing and harvesting. Binding harvesters and machines for binding independently; loading apparatus; elevators; portable hay and straw presses.

VI. Materials and methods of preparing fruits. Drying, preserving, and packing of dried fruits (plums, apples, raisins, etc).

VII. Apparatus for the decortication of ramie.

ART. 3. The practical trials will take place on the dates designated below: First group: Grain drills and the distributors of pulverized and liquid fertilizers, and insecticides for cereals, beets, and other agricultural products, Monday, June 10, on the ferme de Noisiel (Seine-et-Marne).

Second group: Wine filtering apparatus, Thursday, June 20, at the station for the trial of machines, rue Jenner, Paris, France.

Third group: Spraying apparatus, first week of July, in the vineyard d'Argenteuil (Seine-et-Oise).

Fourth group: Dairy apparatus, from the 15th to the 22d of July, on the ChampsÉlysées, Paris, during the grand exhibit of live stock.

Fifth group: Mowers and harvesters and independent binders, loading apparatus, elevators of hay and straw, presses of hay and straw, from the 25th of July to the 10th of August, on the ferme de Noisiel (Seine-et-Marne).

Sixth group: Apparatus and methods of preparing fruits-drying. During the second half of August, at the station for the trial of agricultural machines, rue Jenner, Paris.

Seventh group: Apparatus for the decortication of ramie. Second half of August or first week of September, at the station for the trial of machines, rue Jenner, Paris.

ART. 4. The precise location and date for the practical trials will be indicated Jater, and five days or less in advance.

ART. 5. Inventors, constructors, or dealers of whatever nationality, exhibiting at the Universal Exposition of 1889, are admitted to these trials.

ART. 6. Exhibitors who wish to take part in one or other of these trials must make their application, in writing, to the general director of trials, 16 avenue de la Bourdonnais, Paris: For the first group, the 1st of June or later; for the second

group, the 10th of June or later; for the third group, the 20th of June or later, and for the other groups, June 30, or later. Each application should contain the full name, business, and address of the exhibitor, the date of the invention of the machine, or its latest improvement; the name of the inventor; the weight of the machine; its capacity for work; its price; the number of machines already sold, and all other data necessary for the information of the jury.

ART. 7. A special jury will be named for each trial. This jury will be composed essentially of the members of the international jury of awards in the classes in question and of special deputy members. The jury will designate its president and name a secretary to report the result of the trial. It will decide on the nature of the tests employed; on the divisions to be established between the various machines of each group, and on the conditions under which the trials will be held.

ART. 8. The exhibitors admitted to the trials must present either one of the machines on exhibition or a machine of identical construction, which should be in place ready to be operated at the hour fixed by the jury.

ART. 9. Each exhibitor will be required to provide himself, at his own expense, and as he shall require, the men, teams, fuel, or other means necessary to the working of his machines and instruments. The expense of transportation, going and returning, shall also be at his charge. He must submit to all the tests prescribed by the jury.

ART. 10. The jury may allow any exhibitor whose machine may be broken or rendered unserviceable or stopped while being tested, to replace it with an identical machine.

ART. 11. The special commissioners will be charged with all that concerns the organization and conduct of the trials, and subsequent dispositions.

ART. 12. There will be no classification in the order of merit, but all exposing machines, instruments, or apparatus which are judged worthy may receive one or other of the awards provided in the rules of the international jury of awards. The jury will have in addition at its disposition ten objects d'art to reward exceptional merit. Each jury shall make the awards in accordance with the results of the practical tests. The jury shall take into account, however, in its own judgment, the value of the machine or instrument from the point of view of construction and of operation.

ART. 13. The president of each jury shall transmit, within 15 days, to the general director of the trials, the report drawn up by the secretary and approved by the jury on the results of the trials and tests of the jury.

ART. 14. At the close the presidents, vice-presidents, and secretaries of each jury shall come together to listen to the reports of each special jury and to determine definitely on the disposal of the awards. The full report shall be transmitted immediately to the general director of the trials.

Paris, May 26, 1889.

Le ministre du commerce, de l'industrie et des colonies, commissaire général.

P. TIRARD.

SEEDERS AND DISTRIBUTERS OF FERTILIZERS AND INSECTICIDES.

The trials of the first group of agricultural machines, including the drills and seeders and distributers of fertilizers and insecticides either powdered or liquid were held on the 10th and 11th of June on the ferme de Buisson, Noisiel, which Madame Menier had graciously placed at the disposal of the jury. Thirty machines took part in the trials. This number may, perhaps, be considered small in view of the importance of this class of machines in the Exposition.

Almost all the French manufacturers were represented, except MM. Albaret and Gautreau, who, being members of the jury, were hors de concours, and did not enter their machines in competition. There were no American competitors, and foreign countries were meagerly represented-there being in fact only the grain drill of Smyth & Sons (England) and the fertilizer distributer, the Hérisson, constructed in France, but of German origin.

The implements submitted to the trials were divided into five classes, as follows:

(1) Drills in lines of eight rows and above.

(2) Drills in lines of seven rows and under.

(3) Beet drills.

(4) Drills in hills (à paquete).

(5) Distributers of fertilizers.

CLASS 1. DRILLS IN LINES OF EIGHT ROWS AND ABOVE.

The competitors in Class 1 were the following: Hurtu (France); Japy (France); Liot (France); Smyth & Sons (England), represented by M. Maraval, Paris (France).

Trials were made with the grains named below:

First. Wheat treated with blue vitriol, in lines 0.15 meter apart and at the rate of 150 liters to the hectare.

Second. Barley, width of rows 0.30 meter; 150 liters to the hectare. Third. Corn, width of rows 0.30 meter; 50 kilos to the hectare. Fourth. Small grains (Lupine), width of rows 0.18 m; 10 kilos to the hectare.

In all these trials the seeders were provided with sacks which were attached to each shovel to receive the seed and thus make it possible to determine the amount sown. The drills were drawn in a straight line for a given distance. Knowing then the distance traversed and the width of the rows and their number (or the width covered by the machine) and the weight of the grain taken in the sacks, it was possible to deduce the quantity of grain drilled to the hectare.

By an examination and comparison of the sacks, the weight of grain furnished by each shovel could be learned and any irregularity in the distribution noted.

These trials have shown that the cultivator has at his command machines that respond very well to all practical needs. It is possible to drill at any desired width or depth, the soil being uniform, and at a given rate per hectare. The distribution also is regular. It appears, however, that the large drills can not sow at a rate below 120 liters per hectare and it would be well if the amount could be reduced to 60 or 80 liters per hectare, and this may be accomplished by causing the distributing axis to move at a slower rate.