This complete, no-nonsense guide, written at the turn of the century, presents both the mechanical principles and the origins of farm machinery, which have directly influenced the development of farming in America. The reader's apprenticeship begins with instruction on the essential building blocks of machinery, including horsepower, the lever, and the law of mechanics. The book goes on to describe more sophisticated principles associated with the transmission of power, including belts, gearing, and friction, as well as the use and strengths of various building material from wrought iron to soft-centered steel. Finally, the reader is given an advanced education in every aspect of farm machinery from seeding and threshing machinery to wagons, buggies, and sleds.