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THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



Competition keeps the number of outfits about 

 right both for economy and efficiency. The cost 

 of engines varies from $1000 to $2000 and for 

 the threshers from $850 to $1175. Thus the 

 cost for an ordinary sized outfit such as is widely 

 used in the Central states is from $1850 to $3175. 

 The selling price of the combined harvester- 

 thresher is from $1725 to $4200. 



FIG. 50. The Combine. A combined harvester-thresher pulled by a gasoline 



traction engine. 



The price charged for threshing wheat varies. 

 Where the field crew is furnished by the farmer 

 and the threshing is out of the stack, it ranges 

 from four to five cents per bushel. Where the 

 field crew is furnished by the thresher owner and 

 the threshing is out of the shock, from eight to 

 ten cents a bushel is the usual charge. Prices 

 must of course be sufficient to pay wages for men 

 and operating expense of machine. The latter 



