2 BULLETIN 627, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



At the time these crude methods were used, wages for both man- 

 and horse-labor were much lower than at present. To-day. with the 

 unprecedented high wages for hired help for farm work, and its cor- 

 responding scarcit3 T , together with the increased cost of maintaining 

 horses, the necessity for using the most improved methods and ma- 

 chinery in order to reduce the amount of man-labor to a minimum 

 is obvious. 



During the last century there has been remarkable progress in the 

 development of harvesting equipment. The mower, the reaper, the 

 header, the binder, and the combined harvester have followed each 

 other in rapid succession, substituting at first horse-labor for man- 

 labor, and later introducing mechanical power in the form of steam 

 and internal-combustion engines for horse-labor. 



The cost of harvesting wheat at the present time varies widely in 

 different sections of the country largely because of the different 

 methods employed in these operations. In most cases the particular 

 manner in which the crop is handled is influenced by climatic con- 

 ditions and the requirements of the cropping system followed, as 

 well as by the character of the wheat itself. The various methods 

 followed throughout the country, therefore, generally are those which 

 have been found to be well adapted to the particular conditions exist- 

 ing where they are used, although local custom has in some places 

 operated to continue systems that are more expensive than others 

 which would be entirely practicable. 



The purpose of this bulletin is to point out, so far as possible, the 

 comparative cost of the different methods employed in harvesting 

 wheat and to outline the points which must be considered in calcu- 

 lating this cost in such a way that farmers readily may insert the 

 figures which apply to their particular conditions, and thus be able 

 to compare their present costs with those of others. By so doing, 

 those who are not now doing the work in the most economical man- 

 ner may be led to consider the adoption of some other practicable 

 system which will result in a saving of time and money. 



A careful stud}* of the cost of harvesting wheat has shown that 

 the greater items of expense are for man- and horse-labor and depre- 

 ciation of machine, and in endeavoring to cut down harvesting 

 expenses the farmer should give careful attention to the most 

 important items. The large machines show the smallest cost per acre, 

 and, other things being equal, the farmer therefore should use the 

 largest machine practicable under his conditions in order to reduce 

 the man- and horse-labor required. If he can make his machines 

 last longer by a little inexpensive care, such as better housing, more 

 careful overhauling during the winter months, etc., it may result 

 in material savings in total harvesting expense. In the following 

 pages are shown some, figures which, though they may not be directly 



