6 BULLETIN 1019, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A speed of 1,200 to 1,500 revolutions per minute is recommended for 

 power machines by the manufacturers. 



Much poorly thrashed broom corn results from insufficient and in- 

 competent help. Instances are common where thrashing is under- 

 taken with insufficient help to straighten the brush as fast as the 

 thrasher will remove the seed. In the effort to supply the needed 

 brush the proper butting of it is neglected, so that . the feeder 

 chain is not engaged properly and the brush either fails to come in 

 contact with the cylinders or to engage the feeder chain at all and 

 becomes waste in the seed pile. 



HIGH WINDS DETRIMENTAL TO THRASHING. 



High winds disarrange brush not only when being handled in the 

 field but when being thrashed. They are particularly troublesome 

 where thrashing is done from the rick. The dry broom corn is light 

 in weight and unless amply protected is disarranged on the table. If 

 it passes between the cylinders not properly butted, the heads that 

 are disarranged frequently fail to come in contact with the cylinder 

 teeth and pass through untouched. Tarpaulins stretched up on the 

 side from which the wind blows are usually sufficient to overcome 

 much of the trouble. 



NIGHT THRASHING. 



When there is a scarcity of thrashing machines or when the broom 

 corn has matured rapidly, the danger of loss through overripe brush 

 stimulates nightwork. Xight thrashing usually results in. work below 

 the standard that is ordinarily expected from day thrashing, but it is 

 generally practiced when the necessity demands and it can not always 

 be avoided. 



INTENTIONALLY LEAVING SEED ON THE BRUSH. 



Willingness on the part of the interested parties to leave seed on 

 the brush too often is the cause of unsatisfactory thrashing. Ex- 

 tensive inquiry indicates that about 25 per cent of the growers are in- 

 different to good thrashing. Instances have come to attention where, 

 in order to increase the weight on sale, the grower has requested that 

 the seed be left on the brush. Such an attitude tends to lower the 

 standard in a district, and the practice should be condemned. It is 

 a fallacy for growers to suppose that poor seeding means added profits 

 to them by reason of the extra weight, for buyers are fully aware of 

 the practice and adjust the condition by heavily discounting the price ; 

 so while growers may feel they have received more for their broom 

 corn, in reality they have received less. 



The results of poor thrashing are far-reaching. The seed has no 

 value whatever to the manufacturer but adds to his cost of producing 



