734 



Expenses of Corn Harvesting. 



[jan. 



An average taken from Table IV. would be deceptive, as 

 the proportion of very small loads does not probably repre- 

 sent average conditions. Some of the larger loads did un- 

 doubtedly overstrain the horses. One horse that was work- 

 ing in the field when the largest loads were counted, viz., 

 those of 200 sheaves, afterwards became very lame, and had 

 to be laid up with a strained sinew. I should estimate about 

 15 cwt. to be a good load, which would represent 140 sheaves 

 weighing 12 lb. Taking the following statement to represent 

 an average acre of wheat under conditions of high farming, 

 we can say that rather less than four loads, or, to be exact, 

 3 '73 loads, would have to be carried in harvesting an acre of 

 wheat. 



Grain, 5 qrs. at 504 lb = 22 cwt. 



Straw ... ... ... .:. ... =30 „ 



Weed, etc = 4 



56 ,, 



Pitching and Loading in Field, — Another point investi- 

 gated was the time taken to pitch sheaves and to load on the 

 carts when carting the corn from field to stack. The follow- 

 ing table shows data taken : — 



Table VI. — Pitching and Loading in Field. 



Number of Men. 



Time taken. 











Loads per Minute, 



Number of Sheaves 









including all 



to the Load. 



Crop. 



Pitching. 



Loading. 



Delays. 







1 



1 



2 in 35 



200 



Wheat. 



2 



2 



3 in 27 



171 1 9 



5 > 



1 



, 1 



I in 9 



Not ascertained. 





2 



2 



3 in 23 



112 



55 



2 



2 



3 in 23 



150 



Barley. 



1 



1 



3 in 52 



200 





2 



2 



3 in 29 



Not ascertained. 



5 5 



2 



2 



3 in 38 



>5 



„ 



1 



1 



3 in 60 



55 





2 



2 



4 in 28 



142 



Oats. 







Average. 







1 



1 



1 in 17-3 





All crops. 



2 



2 



1 in 8-8 



I 





It is very difficult to count the sheaves as pitched or loaded, 



