28 N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Sta. Bull. 273 



There is, however, a distinctly higher cost for those farms hiring 

 their silage cut, partly due to the smaller amount. Although the cost 

 is greater by about $4.00 per acre, it still is not uneconomic except in a 

 very few instances where the farm is too small to carry a one-man dairy 

 unit, and should indicate some need for study of methods employed in 

 order to bring about economies in handling. It may be possible to ow^n 

 a stationary engine and cutter on those farms too small to wisely invest 

 in a tractor. The new blowers are built to operate satisfactorily with 

 five and six-horse-power motors. 



Cost does not change much with various methods of ownership of 

 machinery. The significant difference seems to be the influence of area 

 in silage on whether or not a man owns a machine. The men raising 

 smaller areas of silage corn usually hire, or exchange labor for power 

 and cutter. Those who use stationary power have some advantage 

 other than lower investment cost. The stationary engine permits of 

 power ownership on those farms too small for satisfactory operation of 

 tractors for draw-bar work. 



Hours per acre and per ton of silage; 



Labor per acre and per ton is greatest on those farms having the 

 smaller area in silage. This is largely due to less need for hurry, since 

 those growers have as long a time to take care of the crop as have the 

 larger growers and usually take as long. 



There is little difference in yield per acre whether a large or small 

 area is grown, but much difference in labor required. With the same 

 area in silage, savings in labor must be accounted for by better handling 

 methods. When the farms were divided into three groups on the basis 

 of the amount of labor required to grow and harvest an acre of silage, 

 the same farms in each group were also more efficient in the handling of 

 hay. (Table 24) 



9 



Table 24. Hoiirs per acre and per ton on silage. 



It is easier, however, to reduce labor requirements in handling sil- 

 age by changing from a tipcart to a low special wagon, than it is to 

 change the construction of a barn. 



