26 
BULLETIN 1292, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 32. — Threshing cow-peas 
(Threshing machine) 
Men in 
crew 
Number Average 
of re- bushels 
ports per day 
Bushels reported 
most frequently 
3 
4 
16 1 96.25 
9 117.77 
100 (4 reports). 
Scattering. 
OATS, WHEAT, AND RYE 
All operation and labor performances for small grain are here pre- 
sented together. These crops are handled in the same way and the 
rate of work for different operations, except threshing, is the same. 
The oat crop is planted either for grain or for hay. Wheat and rye 
are practically always cut for grain. These crops are usually planted 
in the fall and harvested early the following season. Often a second 
crop follows on the same ground; as, for example, peanuts. 
Planting is done both by hand and by drill, the latter being the 
more common method. As with cowpeas, everyone does not plow 
before sowing. Those who do not, run a turnplow at a shallow depth 
to cover the seed after sowing. (See Table 33.) 
Practically all of the small grain crop is cut with a binder, but a few 
farmers use a cradle. Cradles are used only where the acreage is 
small and the field irregular. Every man who uses a binder does not 
necessarily own a machine, but may hire the work done by a neighbor. 
After the grain is cut it is shocked in the field. (See Table 34.) 
Following harvest, the grain is stacked and hauled to the barn or 
threshed from the shock. Table 35 shows the rate of work for 
different yields of grain per acre when hauling bundles to the barn. 
Some farmers do not thresh their oats, but feed them from the bundle. 
The performance of different crews when threshing oats from the stack 
or barn is given in Table 36. Not enough reports are available for 
wheat or rye. 
Table 33. — Planting oats, wheat, or rye 
Method and implement 
Number 
of 
reports 
Crew 
Average 
acreage 
per day 
Men 
Mules 
84 
14.85 
13 
15 
1 
2 
1.62 
2.27 
59 
o 
8.89 
31 
3 
9.40 
15 
4 
10.87 
Acreage reported 
most frequently 
Plant broadcast (by hand) 
Cover, turnplow,. 
Do.... 
Plant, drill 
Do 
Do 
/10 (22 reports) . 
\20 (18 reports). 
114 (4 reports). 
2 (11 reports). 
/8 (25 reports) . 
\10 (18 reports). 
10(14 reports). 
/ 10 (5 reports'!. 
\12 (4 reports). 
