i io THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



wheat alone. In fact fields of 3O-acre size are 

 only common in the corn belt states, and there 

 other small grains and corn are also extensively 

 grown. 



The equipment needed in the regions where 

 wheat is the principal crop is more extensive. 

 Fields there are usually 100 acres or larger. For 

 such conditions, the wheat-raising outfit consists 

 essentially of the following : 



Six horses, $150 each $900.00 



One gang plow 64.00 



One harrow (24 feet) 24.00 



One disc 40.00 



One drill 105.00 



One binder (eight-foot cut) 150.00 



Two racks for hauling bundles, $50 each . . . 100.00 



Two wagons for hauling grain, $85 each . . . 170.00 



One elevator for unloading and loading grain . . 175.00 



Total $1728.00 



For larger fields the equipment is increased in pro- 

 portion. Thus the cost per acre of necessary 

 equipment is not materially reduced. 



Threshing outfits are usually owned by a farmer ; 

 only a few machines, however, are owned in each 

 community. These few can easily take care of 

 the work because the working capacity of a thresh- 

 ing machine is so much greater than that of the 

 other machinery involved in wheat growing. The 

 cost of the machine is likewise relatively high. 



