6 BULLETIN 1019, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
A speed of 1.200 to 1,500 revolutions per inate 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. 
wens, 
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. Night 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 ena but adds to his cost of producing — 
