Cost of Reaping. 
103 
On this ground I would charge horses engaged on self- 
binders at 2s. Id. per day, but to meet criticism will in this 
case allow a higher figure. I shall therefore, considering the 
arduous nature of the work and the long days, allow 2s. 6t/. per 
day for each horse, feeling that the 5d. per day thus conceded 
will not materially increase the cost per acre of the work. 
The question as to whether two or four, three or six horses 
are required to draw a binder has already been discussed. 
I prefer three horses abreast, with three in reserve, and to 
keep the machine going continuously. Two men accompany 
each machine, one to drive and one to sharpen knives and cut 
round corners, and to take turns on the machine. On flat 
land two horses at work and two resting will be sufficient, 
but not on hilly fields. Two estimates appear necessary, one 
for four horses and one for six, and having arranged these 
points we can now venture upon a statement of cost. 
Cost of Self-Binders per Day. 
With four horses, 
With six horses, 
or two 
pairs 
or two three-horsi 
worked 
teams worked 
alternately 
alternately 
£ 
s. 
d. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
Horses at 2s. Qd. each. 
0 
10 
0 
0 
15 
0 
Two men at 4s. per day 
0 
8 
0 
0 
8 
0 
One boy to water and attend to horses 
0 
2 
0 
0 
2 
0 
42 lb. of binder twine .... 
0 
18 
0 
0 
18 
0 
Oil 
0 
1 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Use of emery grindstone . . * . 
Interest, wear, tear, and repair at 
0 
1 
0 
0 
1 
0 
20 per cent, spread over twelve days 
on 35 1 . 1 . 
0 
11 
8 
0 
11 
8 
£2 
11 
8 . 
£2 
16 
8 
Twenty per cent, may appear a heavy charge for wear, tear, 
and repair, but the effective life of a self-binder cannot be 
placed at more than five years, although repairs and renewals 
may still preserve the machine effective, and therefore of value. 
I consequently hesitate to charge a lower figure for these items. 
The amount of work done in one day varies from ten to 
twelve acres, and both divisors may be employed according to 
circumstances. 
Cost per acre Cost per acre 
with four horses with six horses 
s. d. s. d. 
When ten acres are cut per day. .5 2 5 8 
„ twelve „ „ . . 4 3f i 8f 
To these estimates must be added Is. per acre for stooking ; 
so that the total cost of setting up corn amounts to from about 
5s. 4 d. to 6s. Sd. per acre. 
1 Harvesters vary in price from 25 1. to 37 1. each, but many leading makers 
quote them at 35Z. 
