SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF FARM LABOR. 



15 



Digging is done with a potato plow or other digging implement. 

 One man can pick up in barrels or bags behind an elevator digger, on 

 a field free from weeds yielding about 200 bushels per acre, about 100 

 bushels a day. Under Chester County conditions, however, and 

 particularly after a potato-plow type of digger, 60 to 75 bushels is 

 an average day's work. A few farmers sell immediately after digging, 

 but the greater number store their potatoes and wait for a special 

 market. 



Table VI. — Crews and duty of machinery in seeding and harvesting oats (average of 19 



farms). 



Operation. 



Seeding 



Cutting, binder 6-foot cut 



Do 



Shocking 



Hauling to barn l 



Do 



Crew. 







Acres 











covered 







in 10-hour 



Men. 



Horses. 



day. 



1 



2 



9.50 



1 



2 



9.00 



1 



3 



10.80 



1 







6.00 



2 



2 



6.00 



3 



2 



6.50 



Days per acre. 



10-hour day. 



Man. Horse. 



0.11 

 .11 

 .09 

 .17 

 .34 

 .46 



0.22 

 .22 

 .27 



.34 

 .30 



9-hour day. 



Man. Horse. 



0.12 



0.24 



1 All the farmers visited hire thrashing done at from 2 cents to 3 cents per bushel, furnishing fuel and 

 board for the hands. Three to five men in addition are often furnished. 



Table VI gives the crews and duty of machinery as the average 

 on 19 farms for seeding and harvesting oats. 1 



Table VII. — Crews and duty of machinery in seeding and harvesting wheat (average of 33 



farms). 





Crew. 



Acres 



covered 



in 10-hour 



day. 



Days per acre. 



Operation. 



Man. 



Horse. 



10-hour day. 



9-hour day. 





Man. 



Horse. 



Man. 



Horse. 



Seeding 6 to 8 foot drill * 



1 



1 

 1 

 2 

 3 



2 

 3 

 

 2 

 2 



9.50 

 10.00 

 5.40 

 5.30 

 5.75 



0.11 

 .10 

 .18 

 .36 

 .51 



0.22 

 .30 



0.12 



0.24 















.36 

 .34 



















i Timothy can be seeded at the same time that the wheat is drilled, at no extra labor expense. 

 2 All these farmers hire thrashing done at 4 to 5 cents per bushel, furnishing fuel and board for the hands. 

 Three to five men in addition are often furnished. 



Table VII gives the crews and duty of machinery as the average 

 on 33 farms for seeding and harvesting wheat. In most cases the 

 wheat is hauled to the barn and thrashed whenever it is convenient 



» Some of the farmers in this region who were visited expressed their opinion that oats were unprofitable 

 and a number of farmers are substituting soy beans for this crop. However, as but few farmers are growing 

 soy beans, the data obtained were insufficient to present as an average for this crop. The figures given 

 for preparation of land will apply for soy beans. When the crop is planted in rows the acreage planted 

 per day will be greater than for potatoes and less than for corn. The figures given for wheat will apply 

 to soy beans when this crop is drilled broadcast. In harvesting for hay, labor requirements about equal 

 those given for alfalfa. 



