ae BULLETIN 1447, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
fied with the 18-foot combine, because of its adaptability to their 
size of farm. They were of the opinion, also, that larger sizes 
wasted more grain in “ draws.” 
Of the owners of 20-foot combines, 23 per cent favored the 18-foot 
combine, giving among other reasons that it is lighter than the 20-foot 
combine; that it is adapted for use with a 40-horsepower tractor, 
and that a larger machine wastes more grain in “ draws.” Sixty- 
nine per cent recommended the purchase of a 20-foot combine. The 
tillable acreage per farm for those in this group ranged from 505 to 
2,238 and averaged 1,540. 
The one man who owned a 22- foot combine recommended the pur- 
chase of a 14-foot combine, giving as a reason that they are less 
expensive to maintain. 
Of the three men who owned 24-foot combines, one stated that a 
12-foot machine was large enough for his farm; another recom- 
mended an 18-foot combine, for the reason that the 24-foot machine 
was too large for his tractor, and that it packed the ground too much. 
The one man who favored a 24-foot combine gave no reason for his 
choice. 
OPINIONS OF COMBINE OWNERS AS TO THEIR ADVANTAGES AND 
DISADVANTAGES 
Opinions of owners relative to the advantages and disadvantages 
of the use of combines will be found in Table 28. Of the advantages, 
man labor saved was reported the greatest number of times and 
was followed in order by the statement that the cost of using the 
combine was less than that of using the stationary thresher. Third 
in order of frequency of mention was the statement that the combine 
enabled the harvest work to be done more nearly in season. In addi- 
tion, there is the advantage of less danger from fire hazard, and the 
fact that the wheat grower can market “his crop earlier and thus get 
ready cash to pay accumulated and current debts incident to the 
production of the crop. 
TABLE 28.—Opinions of 191 owners as to advantages and disadvantages of use 
of combines, 1922 
Advantages of combines in the order of | Owners ! Disadvantages of combines in the order | Owners 
frequency of mention reporting | of frequency of mention reporting 
| 
Number || Number 
Manulaborsav eG 4.6 Steet a ee 75 || Seatters straw and chaff_________________ 39 
Cheaper than stationary thresher ---____ 62 || Wastes grain Fe. RAE SEA RSE ST SD OS ee 20 
7hreshing in-season". a yet as 43 || Seatters grain sacks_______.___..-.___-.- 18 
Saves horses and horse work___________- 3Gg|| (SCALLETS-WCCGiSCCOS= sees oe ee peer 10 
Adapted for harvesting in windy weather 212 | Racks, Soils Se 5 Fo ee ey ae NE EE eee 6 
SAVeCStEraln: t= Foe ie ge ee 18/-}) Elio re pale COSt{ ae ee ee epee ee 5 
Separates chaff from straw____________-_- 1" || Rough*toporraphy] === ©) oan Se 5 
Men prefer combine harvesting__-_-_-___- 5 First cost and depreciation_____________- 2 
Mechanical trouble == 2— =  ee e 
A saving in horses and horse work was mentioned by 36 combine 
owners, and 21 reported as an advantage that the combine is adapted 
to harvesting work in windy weather. This is because there is a 
minimum of. handling of the headed grain and a minimum of loss 
from delayed threshing and handling of the threshed grain. 
