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). 
Crew. 
Acres 
covered 
in 10-hour 
day. 
Days per acre. 
Operation. 
Men. 
Horses. 
10-hour day. 
9-hour day. 
Man. 
Horse. 
Man. 
Horse. 
Seeding 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
3 
2 
2 
3 

2 
2 
9.50 
9.00 
10.80 
6.00 
6.00 
6.50 
0.11 
.11 
.09 
.17 
.34 
.46 
0.22 
.22 
.27 
0.12 
0.24 
Cutting, binder 6-foot cut 
Do 
Shocking 
Hauling to barn l 
.34 
.30 
Do" 
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). 
Operation. 
Crew. 
Man. 
Horse. 
Acres 
covered 
in 10-hour 
day. 
Days per acre. 
10-hour day. 
Man. Horse. 
9-hour day. 
Man. Horse. 
Seeding 6 to 8 foot drill > . 
Cutting, binder 6-foot cut 
Shocking 
Hauling to barn 2 
Hauling to barn 
9.50 
10.00 
5.40 
5.30 
5.75 
0.11 
.10 
.18 
.36 
.51 
0.22 
0.12 
0.24 
34 
1 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 
i 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. 
