Agricultural Engineering Record

Abstract

THE contents of the first number of Agricultural Engineering Record provide a good example of the intended scope of this publication, the main purpose of which is to place on record the results of the testing, experimental and research work of the National Institute for Agricultural Engineering Askham Bryan, York (London: H.M. Stationery Office. Pp.32. 1s.). The subject selected for special review is segmented sugar-beet seed. This process which originated in the United States, breaks up the seed clusters before sowing by means of a machine thereby facilitating singling later. Tests carried out on large-scale observation plots in England are described, from which it appears that there was no difference in the yields of beet grown from segmented and natural seed. Another article gives the results of measurements of grain losses with the combine harvester, showing that such losses can easily be on an order which makes the process uneconomical; and it is suggested that attention be paid to improve ments in the general design of the cutter-bar, as it ii here that the greatest source of loss occurs. Comparative tests with three machines used in sugar beet harvesting indicated that each was superior to the others in at least one respect, and work is in progress on the production of a composite machine, Grain bin ventilation, a grain flow meter, a coulter for ploughing-in straw and an onset potato-digge form the subjects of the shorter articles, and the number concludes with what is intended to be the chief feature of the publication, namely, summaries of the National Institute's test reports of implements or machines specially imported for research purposes or experimental prototypes not yet in production.