GRAIN FARMING IN NORTH DAKOTA, 
Table I. — Man and horse labor required per acre on various crops. 
[10-hour day.] 
11 
Crop. 
Man 
days 
per acre. 
Horse 
days 
per acre. 
Crop. 
Man 
days 
per acre. 
Horse 
days 
per acre. 
0.64 
.74 
.71 
1.94 
2.09 
2.11 
Flax a 
.66 
1.64 
3.16 
2.23 
3.85 
Potatoes.. 
4.58 
a Does not include thrashing. 
The amount of man labor per acre varies somewhat with yield, 
since the time required for certain operations is greater if yields are 
heavy than if yields are light. The leading four grain crops require 
each approximately the same amount of man labor, since the same im- 
plements and crews are used for all of them. 
Corn and potatoes require more work in cultivation and harvest- 
ing than do the small-grain crops. Most of the cultivation is done 
with two horses ; the harvesting of corn is done by cutting with corn 
binder and shocking in the field. Potatoes are planted and dug by 
machine. 
Horse labor is approximately the same on the leading four grain 
crops, but is considerably higher on corn and potatoes. For details 
of factors entering into the cost of horse labor, see page 15. 
SEED PER ACRE. 
The amount of seed used for planting by different farmers varies 
somewhat. The relation of the amount of seed for various crops to 
the yield of the same is shown on page 31. In seeding durum wheat, 
farmers generally use from one-quarter to one-half bushel more seed 
per acre than for other varieties. 
TWINE. 
Since practically all grain is harvested with the binder, large 
amounts of twine are required. The amount used per acre varies 
directly with the yield; when wheat yields 8 bushels per acre, 1.5 
pounds of twine are required, and when wheat yields 20 bushels, 2 
pounds. Barley and oats require slightly more twine per acre for 
harvesting than wheat. Where barley yields 12 bushels per acre 1.3 
pounds are used, and where 30 bushels are made, 2.3 pounds. Oats 
require 1.5 pounds of twine when the yield is 34 bushels and 2.25 
pounds when the yield is 45 bushels. Where flax yields 8 bushels of 
seed per acre, 1.3 pounds of twine are required. Not all flax is bound, 
however, it often being dropped in loose bunches by reapers or 
binders. 
