464 MAIZE 



CHAP. High-veld having 200 acres under crop, who used a binder for 



XI. 



one or two seasons and then " scrapped " it in favour of hand- 

 labour ; but he was exceptionally well situated as regards a 

 steady supply of the best native labour, and this single case 

 cannot be relied upon as a demonstration of the relative value 

 of machine and hand-labour in South Africa. 



"The farmer who would secure the full value of his corn 

 crop should secure the fodder with as much care as he gives 

 his clover hay, harvesting it at the proper period, and not 

 allowing it to become ruined by rain or frost"; for South 

 Africa we should have added : and drying-out by desiccating 

 winds. 



437. Sled Harvesters. — In the United States many home- 

 made harvesting devices of the sled pattern have been made 

 from time to time (cf. Figs. 171 and 172). These were adapted 

 for cutting either one or two rows at a time, according to 

 draught available and other requirements. With most of 

 these sled harvesters the driver rode on the platform, and it 

 was necessary for him to gather the stalks in his arms in 

 advance of the cutting edge, to prevent them falling in various 

 directions. This method proved very exhausting to the men, 

 and the acreage which could be handled per man per day was 

 reduced in consequence. 



An improved harvester was designed, in which the stalks 

 were collected on the platform by a guiding arm (Fig. 172), and 

 it was only necessary for the driver to remove the stalks from 

 the sled at intervals and to throw them on the ground. A 

 further improvement was effected when, in order to reduce 

 the draught, the sled was mounted on wheels. With this 

 machine, two men sit on the platform, one facing each row, to 

 guide the maize stalks against the cutting edge with one hand, 

 and with the other hand and arm to collect the cut stalks 

 on the tilting side-part or wing of the platform, holding the 

 stalks against the leg, until enough have been collected to form 

 a shock. 



438. Mechanical Harvesters. — These simple devices, while 



eight years used as a basis of calculation. " There is no doubt that in general 

 half the money spent for implements could he saved if they icere given better care 

 when in use, and when not in me protected in an implement shed, from leind, 

 rain, sunshine, and farm animals." 



