102 Methods of Harvesting Corn Crops. 
to great perfection and it is not necessary in this connection 
to discuss the merits of rival machines. It is wonderful 
to witness the perfection of its work and the dexterity with 
which a good carter manages and keeps it going without let 
or hindrance. It has been an education in itself to men, and 
although a highly complicated implement, it is extraordinary 
to see how it works day after day without serious breakdowns. 
It possesses all the advantages of the reaper, with some others 
in addition. There are circumstances in which it cannot be 
used, but these are rare. On all fairly standing crops the self- 
binder may be used. It has caused the rounded ridges which 
at one time were seen on clay arable land to disappear, for 
neither it nor the reaper can stand the recurring jars of ridge 
and furrow. It cannot always be used on heavy, laid, or 
twisted crops, nor on precipitous ground. It is scarcely 
consistent with small fields and small holdings, where back- 
delivery reaping machines still find employment. 
Cost of Reaping. 
We have already seen that cutting, tying, and stooking with 
the sickle used to cost from 10s. to 20s. per acre, and it has 
even been in some circumstances as high as 25s. per acre. 
Mowing, tying, stooking and raking wheat were estimated as 
costing 12s. per acre. We have now to endeavour to find the 
cost of cutting by reaping machines and by self-binders, and 
once again we are confronted by the horse question. 
If horses are charged simply at bed-rock price, or what 
they absolutely cost the farmer, they may be demonstrated to 
entail an expenditure of 2 51. per annum, including risk and 
depreciation upon an average value of 45 1. This does not 
include attendants’ or teamsmen’s wages, because these are 
paid for separately. This equals an average cost of Is. 8^d. 
per day, spread over 290 working days. The question is, Are 
we to charge horses cutting corn at the average cost of their 
maintenance throughout the year ? I prefer to charge horse 
labour at two rates, one for summer and one for winter, and 
to divide the total cost as follows : — 
£ s. d. 
Two-thirds of total cost for the summer half year . . 16 13 4 
One-third of the same for the winter half year . .868 
Total cost . . 25 0 0 
This works out exactly to Is. 0 \d. per day for the winter 
half, and 2s. 0^<i. for the summer half year. It is bed-rock cost, 
and appears to me the only way of charging horses for work 
done on the farm for the farmer’s profit. It is what the horse 
costs, making allowance for the fact that we are justified in 
placing a higher charge for summer than for winter work. 
