34 



BULLETIN 412 



TABLE 27. AVERAGE LABOR REQUIREMENTS PER ACRE GROWING PEAS ON 262 



FARMS IN 1920 



Peas are usually harvested with a mowing machine fitted with some 

 special attachments. Special machines have been designed for harvesting 

 peas, but they are not in general use in New York. The peas, after being 

 cut, are bunched, loaded on hay racks, and drawn to the factory or the 

 viner station. Since they are cut when green, they are bulky and heavy. 

 The variations in the / time required to harvest peas in the different areas 

 are shown in table 28: 



TABLE 28. AVERAGE LABOR REQUIREMENTS PER ACRE HARVESTING PEAS ON 262 



FARMS IN 1920 



Variations in the length of time required to harvest, other than those 

 due to differences in efficiency on different farms, may be due to a number 

 of causes. Some of these are: 



1. Variations in topography. On land which is fairly level and free 

 from stones, the peas can be harvested more rapidly than on land which 

 is more hilly or stony. 



2 . Differences in acreages of peas per farm and in length of haul to the 

 viner. The farmers growing the larger acreages, or whose farms are nearer 

 the viner station, harvest and haul peas in less time than is required by 

 growers with smaller acreages or with longer hauls. 



3 . Delay in unloading peas at the factory. At most plants the farmers 

 unload the peas along conveyers which run to the viners. The employees 

 of the factory take care of them after this. At the plants located in the 

 Steuben area, each man waited until his load could be threshed, and then 

 pitched it to the viner directly. In this area the growers estimated that, 

 on the average, about 3.2 hours per acre, or a little less than an hour per 

 load, were lost in waiting to unload. Very few of the farmers in the other 

 areas reported any delays in unloading. 



