264 POWER AND THE PLOW 



ing operations depends, of course, upon a host of local conditions. 

 After the ground is once broken, a gas tractor of 30 actual 

 tractive horsepower will be able to handle on the average 

 eight to ten 14-inch stubble bottoms in plowing. This, at a 

 net rate of If miles of furrow travel, would give from two to 

 two and one half acres per hour. This is fair capacity since 

 it has been found that the average plowing outfit actually makes 

 about sixteen to eighteen miles of furrow travel in a day of 

 ten hours, after deducting for turns and all delays. Probably 

 the eight bottom plow, equipped with both stubble and breaker 

 bottoms, is the most convenient for this size of engine, as on 

 lighter soils, the extra power of the engine may be taken up by 

 a load of harrows, etc. Probably two thirds the operators, at 

 least one half, disk or pack the ground while plowing. 



In case the plows are not followed immediately by harrows, 

 a combination of soil-preparing implements consists of four 

 8-foot disk harrows, at $30 to $40 each; six 5-foot sections of 

 spike-tooth harrow, at $6 each; three 11-foot rollers or crushers, 

 at $35 each; and three 11-foot grain drills, at about $90 each. 

 It will be noted that in every case except the plows, the total 

 width of each set of implements is about two rods, so that any 

 combination can be used readily. At the same rate of travel 

 as before the capacity of the outfit would be practically seventy 

 acres for a ten-hour day. Each disk harrow or crusher will take 

 about 4 h.p.; each drill 4 to 5 h.p.; and each five-foot section of 

 drag harrow about 1 h.p. These figures are for fairly heavy 

 soil and it will be found in many cases that a combination of 

 implements can be handled, which on the above basis, would 

 require considerably more than the rated horsepower of the 

 engine. 



From three to five 8-foot binders, which will cost about 

 $140 each, can be used for harvesting on level ground, with a 

 capacity of seven to eight acres per hour. It is necessary to 

 provide a special binder hitch, which will not only allow easy 

 turning but will secure perfect alignment of the binders so that 



