COST OF HARVESTING WHEAT. 



7 



method here used of charging interest at 6 per cent on one-half of the 

 first cost for each year distributes the interest charges equally over its 

 entire life, since it would be unfair to charge the first season's use 

 with interest on the full value and the last season's use with interest 

 only on the remaining value. 



It is difficult to arrive at any satisfactory figures for depreciation 

 charges on binders, as the life of these machines varies within wide 

 limits ; the acreage they cover per year also varies, and the care they 

 receive, both in and out of use, has considerable effect on their years 

 of service. The small binders are found most commonly in the 

 Eastern States, where the acreage covered annually (including all 

 crops on which they are used) is comparatively small. 



In Table III are shown some figures on the cost for interest and 

 depreciation on binders, based on approximate figures for the cost, 

 life, and acres covered annually. All three of these items vary 

 in different sections. The acres cut annually by a binder do not seem 

 to have a very direct influence upon its life except where the acreage 

 is extremely large. There is a certain deterioration due to age which 

 appears to limit the length of life in years whether the binder does a 

 fair amount of work each season or not. 



Table III. — Approximate cost, life in years and acres, and annual interest and 

 depreciation charges on binders. 





Approxi- 

 mate 

 cost. 1 



Acres 

 covered 

 annually 



(all 

 grain). 1 



Life in — 



Average annual cost per acre. 



Type of binder. 



Years. 1 



Acres. 1 



Interest at 

 6 per cent 

 on average 

 investment. 



Depre- 

 ciation. 



Total. 



6-foot 



$125 

 135 

 145 



50 

 100 

 150 



15 

 11 

 10 



750 

 1,100 

 1,500 



$0. 07| 

 .04 

 .03 



$0. 16| 

 .12 



$0.24 



7-foot 



.16 



8-foot 



.12^ 





i Approximate figures based on tabulation of 235 reports. 

 in different States, depending largely upon the freight rates. 

 also vary widely in different sections and with different care. 



There is a variation in the cost of binders 

 The acres cut annually, and life in years, 



REPAIRS. 



The amount of repairs required by a binder depends to a great 

 extent upon the care it receives. If kept well oiled and otherwise 

 in proper condition, the repairs, except for the replacement of the 

 canvas, should be practically negligible. Occasional breaks will 

 occur, but most of the parts liable to breakage can be replaced at 

 slight expense. Many farmers have reported the use of a binder for 

 several years without a cent being spent for repairs, whereas in other 

 cases repairs have ranged from $10 to $15 annually. As a rule the 

 most expensive item of repairs, as stated above, is the canvas. The 

 number of acres which can be cut with one canvas varies considerably, 



