Farm Management and Farm Crops 113 



bined harvester drawn by a tractor such as was used 

 for the army tanks. This harvester cuts the grain, 

 threshes and sacks it, and drops the sacks off in piles 

 as it moves forward. 



Some of the steps between these two methods were, Inventions 

 first, the invention of a scythe with a cradle attachment 

 for holding the grain as it fell. Then, a reaper drawn 

 by a horse. A man walked beside the reaper and raked 

 the grain off in bunches as it felf on a platform (Fig. 91). 

 Later, men rode on the reaper and bound the grain as it 

 fell. Then the self-binder was invented. After that 

 came the combined harvester (Fig. 92). 



Alfalfa. The hay crop, as will be seen by referring The merits 

 to the figures given, is one of the most valuable crops * 

 in the United States. Many grasses and legumes are 

 used as hay, but alfalfa is superior in many respects 

 to all others. It is a legume, and therefore is rich in 

 protein, the feed that builds muscle in growing animals 



..'! 



FIG. 92. A combined harvester and thresher drawn by a "caterpillar" tractor. 

 The engine does the work of 25 or 30 horses. 



