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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1922. 21 DAYS IN A YEAR DOESALLTHEFARM WORK, SAYS FORD Authorized Interview Covering Power Farming Methods in Use on Henry Ford’s Far. By Bernard L. Johnson Editor Farm Mechanics. Mr. Ford said to Farm Meelianies: “‘Go to it boys—dig as deep as you can —get the real facts—l’m with you.” In operating under this permit we have also strictly adhered to the fixed phil osophy and instructions of Henry Ford: ■“I>o not exaggerate; the facts are big enough.” HENRY FORD is a farmer and a good one. lie was born a farmer boy near Dearborn, Mich. His first workshop, where he built his first en gine was on this farm, and now he makes his home there, at the same time directing the farming operations and guiding them into the modern efficient way. The old original acreage has been added to many times since those early days. The farm now covers more than - 0.000 acres, with 5,000 acres kept under a high state of cultivation —all with tractors. Except for a few favorite saddle horses there is not a horse on the place! You all know Mr. Ford as a mechani cal genius, as a production wizard, as the manufacturer of Ford cars and trucks and of Fordson tractors, and as the man who started prices tumbling a year ago with his drastic cut in Ford prices, and the epoch-making verdict that the w r ar is now T over —and that war prices must go. But you probably do not know Hen ry Ford as a farmer nor realize quite how much of a farmer he is. I had heard reports of the Henry Ford Farm and of the thoro-going trac tor methods there in use —reports of fields plowed, conditioned, and the crops put in, and later harvested and threshed all in such quick time that it seemed certain there must be some sort of ‘progressive assembly” farming method in use there —some method sim ilar to that now-famo.us one inaugurat ed in the Ford factories which turns out a uniform product in such tremen dous quantities and in such short time as to make one almost doubt his sen ses. So 1 determined that if possible I would head a delegation to visit Mr. Ford qt his farm and see at first hand what kind of a farmer the maker of the Ford car and Fordson tractor re ally is, how he thinks a modern farm should be operated, and what he sees ahead for farmers. A ride of half an hour out Michigan Ave. from the Detroit City Hall brings you to the thriving Village of Dear born; and it is here that Henry Ford is at home. The farm lies along both sides of the paved highway as you ap proach the village the well tilled fields stretching away, level and verdant, as far as the eye can Teach. Mr. Ford’s residence is to the right, away back from the road among a tan gle of natural forest growth which frin ges the river Rouge, at this point a very meandering windey little stream. We will not stop at the house now, as Mr. Ford is much more likely to be over at his office or shop, these being located in the so-called “old tractor pAmt,” now the publishing of “The Dearborn Independent,” just a few miles further along the road on tl>e outskirts of the village. Yes Mr. Ford was there, one of his capable secretaries informed us; but very busy; he had been in and out several times that morning; was just % getting ready to be gone a week on railroad matters. Presently Henry Ford came in, his hair wirad tossed in true outdoor far mer style, a kindly twinkle in his eye, and real warmth and democracy in his hand clasp. He talked freely of the New Day that is Just about to break on the farm for those who are wide awake enough to see it. “Why, farming. Mr. Johnson, the way ■we do it here, is so simple there is real ly nothing to it. Twenty-one days a year does all our farm work. The rest of the time the boys go back into the shop and build tractors. “That is the way it should be with Fordson But a Vision Fifty Years Ago —Now More Than 200,000 Nearly 50 years Henry Ford first planned to make farm life better — to remove much of its drudgery and to make the farmer a practical busiuess man. Although most of his earlier life was spent in developing the automobile he never lost sight of his plans for a tractor and through the years his ex riments continued until the time came when, as Mr. Ford is quoted, “we have spent S4O 000,000 getting ready to i make and sell tractors, but we are ready now.” The price-cut is the final step which is to usher in anew era in farm life. First experiments with the tractor were made on the Henry Ford farm in Dearborn, Michigan. Nearly 20 years ago there was in successful operation a crude type of tractor. However, step by step, the Fordson was developed. There are today more than 200,000 Fordsons in this and other countries' and while this figure seems large, it is only a beginning. The Fordson has proved its merit and in the war when the cry came for food it plowed night and day. But these days are gone and the tractor, on a peace basis, has been found practical, not only in agricultur al but in industry by many who saw its great possibilities. The cut in price to $.195 was unquestionably a surprise— a welcome one to farmers and others. It meant that a tractor with an almost unbelievable small original cost had become a practical and labor-saving possibility foT the farmers throughout America and many foreign countries. It also meant in industry there would be an ever-increasing demand. The first Fordson tractor was built in Dear born, Michigan, September 1, 1917. THE WORK OF THE MONTH. This is the time when the wise far mer gets out the map of his farm, studies it carefully and sees that his fields are laid out so that they may be plowed, seeded and harvested with the least amount of labor. If such a map has not been made it ought to be. A map will show many farmers how mis shapen the fields are, and how the fen ces could he changes so that there would be fewer turns with the plows and oth er implements. “Turns cut no furrows nor harvest no grain,” someone has said. Every field on the farm should he numbered. In February or March at the very latest, what each field will he seeded to, or retained as pasture and given a rest for a season, should be written on the map. Then when the spring comes the work can be planned so that the successive operations will be correct; one will not be piled on the other, and an efficient system will be used. This map will be carefully pre served, and next winter the rotation can be figured to a nicety. ALL farmers. The time will come — mark my word—when every farming community will have its local shop and industry where the farmers can employ themselves productively for the two hundred days and more each year when there is no work to be done on their farms. “As I see it, the farm homes in the future will be grouped in villages where modern conveniences can be en joyed cheaply and where the workers can find profitable employment about nine months of every year when there is nothing more to do out on the fields. In the spring and again in the fall when field work is to be done the tractor and implements will be loaded onto motor trucks and quickly hauled to the job. The work will be quickly done and the implements returned again to proper storage. “Our work here on the farm is all cleaned up now for fall—nothing to do in the fields till next spring and summer. Mother nature will work for us now unassisted until harvest time, just as she is working and will work for all farmers who will let her work. We fall plow in every instance; just as soon as the crop is harvested that field is immediately turned over. Usu ally the plow follows right teehind the THE WINDER NEWS NOTICE TO THE UNIVERSAL CAR Owners of Winder and Barrow County When your Ford car or Truck need repairs, it is good business for YOU to go to an authorized Ford dealer and purchase your parts. Do not be misled! Buy them yourself, so that you may be sure of getting only Genuine Ford parts at reg ular list prices. We are the Authorized Ford Dealers for Winder and Barrow county and carry a complete stock of GENU INE FORD MADE PARTS, made and guaranteed by the Ford Motor Company. FORD OWNERS can always get any parts they may need at our place. But if our stock should be short of any item needed, it will be a pleasure for us to get it with the least possible delay of time and without an extra charge for out of town trips or telephone calls. Our labor charges are the most reasonable to be had. All work is done by trained mechanics —men who spe cialize in Ford work only and can do your work better, with least cost to you. All work is absolutely guaran teed 6y us. Our stock is the only complete stock of Genuine Ford Parts in Winder and Barrow county. Bear this in mind —and next time you are in need of Ford parts call at our place personally. We’ll be glad to explain the ad vantage in using Genuine Ford Parts and we will strive to give the best of service to FORD OWNERS. Sincerely, King Motor Company C. B. MOTT, Manager Fords orv TRACTORS month the delivered price of a Fordson Tractor was $685.00. Today we will deliver a Fordson Tractor, A 24 inch Oliver Disc Plow Specially designed for the Ford son and a Roderick I-cam 6-foot Disc Harrow, all for $684.00. *New prices have just gone into effect. Below is a comparison of the former prices, with the new price now in effect: FORMER NEW PRICE PRICK Fordson Tractor $685J)0 450.00 Oliver No. 3 Single Mouldboard Plow 115.00 _87.00 Oliver No. 7 Double Mouldboard Plow 125.00 93.50 Oliver No. 72 24-inch Double Disc Plow 185.00 130.00 Roderick Lean 6-foot Disc Harrow 126.00 100.00 UuSti-Packer —Oliver 95.00 _B5O 20-inch Grist Mill—Universal 135.00 115.00 Stover No. 70 Feed Grinding Mill * * 95.00 _BO.OO Stover Cut-Off Saw Frame, with 26” Blade 45.00 40.00 Roderick Mower 135.00 115.00 Martin Ditcher and Grader 75.00 60.00 Greyhound Saw Mill 425.00 375.00 SOME OF THE THINGS A TRACTOR WILL DO: Plow 4 to 6 acres in a normal day. Plow six. eight and ten inches deep as easily as a mule will scratch the ground at two to four inches.. Will do the work of six mules. Requires only one man riding the Tractor to operate both the Tractor and Plow. Will work all day and night in the hottest season without rest. Cannot die, and therefore is a safer investment than mules. Costs nothing for fuel on fifty-two Sundays each year. Costs nothing when idle in wet weather. Costs nothing when idle during off season. Has belt power to run farm machinery. Will pay for itself in increased yield. Will pay for itself by cultivating idle acres. Will pay for itself by increasing value of the land. Wdl let the farmer have more time to do other work. Will provide an interest to keep the boy on the farm. Cost less than a team of mules. TALK IT OVER WITH THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE AND PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY TO BE SURE OF SPRING DELIVERY. KING MOTOR COMPANY WINDER GA. - ■si.nscription Price: $1.50 Per Year. WHY HENRY FORD BELIEVES IN THE TRACTOR’S FUTURE In a recent editorial under the title, “Why I Believe in the Tractor,” Mr. Ford summed up in clear words what lie sees ahead for the farmer: “The reason why I believe that the tractor lias a great future ahead of it is because I believe that it will in crease happiness and make life more worth living for people throughout the world than any other device whicli has ever been given to mankiud. ‘I believe it will make farming what it ought to be—the most pleasant, the most healthful and most profitable bus iness in the world. "This may at first appear like an ex aggeration, but when you think what the tractor will do for millions of peo ple all over the world, it doesn’t seem so. “Today the American workman works shorter hours, lives better, g/t* more of the things that make life worth living than any other class in any country in any age. And as time goes on he will get a greater percentage of the profits which his work brings. “In this development from physical labor to lal*or of power and machines the fanner lias lagged behind. "The coming of the gas engine he}p ed him as far ns the stationary work was concerned. But still in all of his field work—by far the most important work—he was limited to the speed and strength of horses —until the tractor came. “The life of a plowman and the joys a of his existence may be poetic —to a poet a long way off. But there is nothing more tiresome —more deaden ing to the mind and ambition than to tramp mile and hour after hour in a furrow following a slow moving team of horses with only an occasional jab in the ribs from the plow handles to vary the monotony. “ThiH is not theory with me, for I was born and raised on a farm, and have followed the plow many a weary mile. I have been both a farmer and a manufacturer. So I know what an advantage power and machinery have given to the latter. “Can you imagine anything more wasteful or inefficient than for an in telligent man to be compelled to spend days and days following a slow moving team without a chance in the world of using his brains or his initiative to speed up that work beyond the leisure ly rate at which the horses choose to navigate. • “And then at the end of the day what has lie to show for his 12 to 14 hours of labor? An acre or two of ground plowed up. “Is it any wonder that farmers and firm workers have left the farms where they could get neither the things they want or the time to enjoy them and have gone to the city where, by the aid of power and machines, they have been able to product* more and thus to get more of the things they want aud more leisure to enjoy life? “The tractor will help solve the food problem and this is one of the serious problems which confronts the world to-day. “The tractor will solve the help prob lem. “The farmer will he able to make the worker an even more attractive propo sition than the manufacturer, lie will be able to pay him well, do away with drudgery and heavy manual labor, give him good working conditions and more leisure. “In this way I believe that the trac tor will make life more enjoyable both for the man who owns the farm and the men who work it.” i-nper. Then later when weather coa litions are just right we get in with ■or tractors and tools to harrow and od. “On Sept. 28, last year, we started ‘o put in our 2500-acre crop of winter 1 at. In five and one-half days the ’ was all done and the tractor aud • * foments put away again in our big machine shed.” j