Before retirement I collected and restored classic antique
tractors and consider myself fairly knowledgeable on the subject of tractors.
A 1928 John Deere model GP with a 2 cylinder gas powered
engine was rated at 10 horsepower at the drawbar. It could pull two 14 inch bottom plows at a
ground speed of 2.3 MPH. through sandy or muck soils with ease.
Contrast that tractor’s capabilities to a 1972 John Deere
model 4020. It had a 6 cylinder diesel
powered engine that was rated at 84 horsepower at the drawbar. It could pull six, 16 inch bottom plows
through heavy clay soils at a much faster ground speed than the “GP”. Its drawbar pull was well over 10,000 pounds.
Nine out of ten people that have read this article so far
have absolutely no idea of what I have just stated nor do they have any idea if
it is true or not. (It is)
Compare the above data statements with the current debate on
guns. Current lobbies and pressure
groups with no knowledge of the subject of tractors would prohibit the
possession, ownership, or use of the latter, higher capacity and greater speed,
of the two tractors. They might even
frown upon the use or ownership of the tractor with the antique plowing
capacities. If all tractor technology
were completely outlawed the farmer would be left with only a single bottom
plow pulled by a team of horses or a yoke of oxen. I do agree that it would be a good idea to
have the farmer’s background checked to see if he has a history of mistreating
animals and he might even take a course in the proper care and feeding of his
oxen.
I rest my case. Oh, I
forgot, both of the tractors, (or even the oxen) in the hands of a madman are
capable of causing mass mayhem and death.
Dal Wolf, Naples
