Animals on the Farm Animals are still the dominant source of energy. Farm tractors, threshers and baling equipment are not yet powered by steam. There is no technical reason for this. Steam-powered fire engines have been used for decades in the big cities, which proves that portable equipment can be fitted for steam power. But few farmers have money to spend on non-essential equipment.

	More Metal Farming equipment is still made with wooden frames and handles, but iron cutting blades. All are simple, and all are pulled through the fields by animals. The hay mower is perhaps the most complicated, equipped with metal teeth on the hay bar which move back and forth, driven by gears on the main wheels. This cuts the hay like an array of scissors.
	Ingenious Contraptions Planting and harvesting are the most important tasks in farm life. But there are plenty of other chores which require specialized equipment. Most are powered by hand cranks.