Shredder /^ead 



4a 



COST OF PREPARING CORN FODDER. 



The cost (»r preparing corn fodder by the various nictliods and Avith 

 the did'crciit machines (U>j)ends uj^on a great many \ariahle factors. 

 It depends upon the yield of corn per acre, upon the method of har- 

 vesting, upon the distance the fodder is to he haided, the size and 

 efTiciency of the working force; the size, capacity, and speed of the 

 machine, and tlic motive j)ower iis(>(l. 



COST OF FILLING THE SILO. 



In cutting corn for ensilage vve have the records kept hy several 

 experiment stations, as to cost, a few of which are here given. 



An accurate record was kept of tlie cost of harvesting and storing 

 45 tons put into the silo in three 

 days." The force employed was as 

 follows: Portable engine, power 

 cutter, one two-mule cart with 

 mules, one single cart with mule, 

 one mule hauling fuel and water for 

 engine, one foreman, one engineer 

 and fireman, two drivers, tlu'ee corn 

 cutters, two men at cutting machine, 

 one man packing in silo, one boy 

 helper on water cart. 



The items of cost were these : Hire 

 of engine and engineer, three days, 

 atS4 per day, .S12; fuel,.'B3; teams 

 and manual labor in all, S46.40; 

 putting cover and weights on silo, 

 $3; total, $64.40, or .$1.43 per ton. 

 It was estimated that the tangled 

 condition of the corn in the field 

 fully doubled the labor of cutting 

 and loading it, and had the ensilage cutter been larger, the same engine 

 and fuel could have doubled the quantity cut per day. It is easy to 

 see how these improvements might have reduced the cost to $1 per 

 ton for storing. 



Cost of harvesting and filling silo, b 



Capacity (if machine, per 10-hour day tons . . 50 



Fia. 24.— Safety devico for shredder. 



Six men in field cutting and loading, at $1..33 $7. 98 



Two teams hauling, at .$2 : 4. 00 



One driver, at $1.3.3 1. 33 



Two men feeding machine, at $1.33 2. GG 



Two men packing in silo, at $1.31 " 2. G6 



One man at engine, at $1.33 1. 33 



Coal used, one-fifth ton, at $8 1. 60 



Cost of harvesting 50 tons 21. 56 



Cost per ton 43 



a Maryland Sta. Rpt. ISSn, p. 103. 



f^ Minnesota Sta. Bui. 2, p. 7. 



