Imagine walking along rough ground behind a horse and plough all day in the hot sun. I guess those old-time farmers were really pleased when some innovative designer realized they could actually put a little seat on the plough so the horse could pull the farmer along as well as the plough. Those farmers would have been amazed to see the comfort of today’s tractors.
They would probably never even have envisaged the olden day tractors that had to be started with a crank handle. This was never an easy task, but then, farmers in those days were not used to doing anything the easy way. Hard work was all part and parcel of life on the farm. Tractors made life a little easier, but it was still hard. Farmers still bounced around on those spring seats all day long in the hot sun or freezing winds. When they turned at the end of the paddock they were ploughing, whirls of thick dust no doubt smothered them and their tractors. And one thing that made their ride even bumpier was those steel wheels. But at least they couldn’t get a puncture.
Nowadays farmers have the benefit of new technology and design that makes tractors even easier to drive and control. Gauges are provided on tractors so that the farmer doesn’t have to stop and get off to manually check if oil or diesel needs renewing. Air-conditioned cabs provide protection from the elements and rubber tyres take a little of the bump out. But it is still hard work, with many farmers ploughing, sowing and reaping with their tractors day and night. But at least they can now be fairly comfortable.
