25 



to obtain a clear field and to have the cornstalks cut close to the 

 ground, an attachment has been invented as shown in figure 16. 

 Tliis knife is attached to the underside of the machine and floats on 

 the ground, cutting the stalks even with the surface. The cutter (D) 

 has a drawing, slanting cut against spring resistance (E), making a 

 clean cut. When this attachment is used the binder is usually set to 

 out higher. The stubs, if cut when sapp}', will deca}^ quickly, and 

 are left on the ground to form humus in the soil; and the ground 

 may be prepart^l for the next crop with greater thoroness. 



DRAFT. 



The following results were obtained in draft tests of corn binders 

 made by tlie author at the Iowa State College: 



Draft tests oj corn binders. 



Binder. 



Condition of soil. 



Medium soft. 



Dry 



....".do 



do 



.....do 



Empty, out 

 oigear. 



Pounds. 

 351 

 372 

 290 

 23o 

 267 



^-P*^;*°'n?t*& 



Cutting 

 Cutting I and bind- 

 and bind- ing with 

 ing. ing. rows as 



cnitivated. 



Pounds. Pounds. 



Pounds. Pounds. 



328 

 415 

 332 

 352 

 298 



465 

 575 

 492 

 463 

 451 



600 

 49<) 

 500 

 468 



496 

 592 



Average draft. 



283 



345 



489 



473 



448 



502 



The average draft on corn binders is about the same as that of a 

 6-foot grain binder. The corn binder should, therefore, be propelled 

 by tliree horses, the same as are required for grain binders. Draft 

 tests of the corn binder, with a stubble-cutter attachment, show^s the 

 following results: 



r>raft of corn hinder with and uithout stubble cutter. 



Pounds. 



Draft with stubble cutter 437 



Draft without stubble cutter 420 



Draft of stubble cutter 17 



COST AND EFFICIENCY. 



In order to obtain full information regarding the efficiency of corn 

 binders, the following questions were sent out to numerous farmers 

 using corn binders in different sections of the countrv^ : 



1. How many acres of corn can one ruan and three horses cut per ten-hour day with 

 a corn binder? 



2. How many acres can one man shock per day after a corn binder? 



3. How many pounds of twine per acre of corn is used when using a corn binder? 



4. What is the life, in years or acres cut, of a corn binder? 



5. What is the total cost per acre for harvesting corn with a corn binder? (a) Cost 

 of machine . (b) Driver and team . (c) Twine — — . (d) Shockers . 



