Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-07-18

Teamwork Helps a
prepared by the United States Depart I
ment of lAgriculture)
When a farmer plans to thrash from |
the field, engages a custom thrashing
crew to do the work on a certain day
and the outfit does not appear until |
three weeks after the specified time, is
it any wonder that the countrynsan
makes few pointed remarks concern
ing custom thrashermen In general and
this one in particular?
Unreliability of custom thrashers,
labor complications which often arise
when two outfits reach a neighborhood
the same day, the expense of custom
thrashing, the careless and extrava-
CANT work of some hired machines, and
similar factors have caused grain
growers in the corn belt to. organize
cooperative thrashing rings for the
purchase, maintenance and efficient
operation of thrashing machinery.
Benefits of the thrashing ring are
shown in an instance reported by the
ture. One large thrashing ring which
has been particularly successful and
which has met all expenses and paid
for itself in four years out of the mon
ey ordinarily paid by the members for
custom thrashing is the Up-to-Date
Thrashing company of Livingston
county, Illinois, which is composed of
ten members who own 15 farms. The
partnership capital originally totaled
$3,275, and the equipment included
20-horSepower steam engine, water
tank, separator, with 34-inch cy-
Under, a corn shelter and a second
hand silage cutter, which has been re-
placed by a new one. The total thrash
ing force usually employed in this
ring for field work consists of ten men
with teams to haul bundles; five
pitchers in the field; three men with
teams to haul the thrashed grain; two
| men to help unload the grain at the
| barn; one man on the stack; one man
| to operate the stacker; one man to
clean up about the machinery; one
water boy and three men with the
thrashing outfit. This involves force
of 81 men. A ring of this size demands
capable management to insure sue
cess.
On Smaller Scale.
A smaller thrashing ring, organized
last year in Fayette county, Ohio, con-
sists of three landowners, whose part
nership capital consists of $1,000
which represents the cost of a small
22-inch separator, with a clover-seed
attachment, the power being furnished
by 1924 farm tractor. These farms
aggregate 400 acres of small grain,
little outside thrashing for hire being
done each year. Last year $500 bush
els of oats, 5000 bushels of wheat anc
100 bushels of clover seed were
thrashed. The ordinary crew wa;
made up of five men, with teams ant
wagons to haul bundles; two men
with 125-bushel wagon beds to hau
grain three miles; one man to manage
the outfit, and boy to help. Bundle
wagons were used to replace two o.
three field pitchers, while the use o
gas engine also dispenses with th'
water boy. The engineer has time t.
help considerably about the separator
With this small force this outfit wa
able to thrash and deliver to the ele
vator, three miles distant, an averag
of approximately 750 bushels Of whea
day.
Smaller Units Favored.
During the last two or three year
the number of thrashing outfits sold t
farm organizations has greatly ir
, creased, and the tendency at presen
is toward the formation of smaller &C
operative units and the purchase G
. small outfits, This comes from the me
, cessity for more economical use c
labor and the advent of the farm trat
tor, the power of which can be we
utilized to run a small thrashe
which, complete with wind stacke
self-feeder and weigher, costs aboI
$1,000. Most of the farmers clubs al
small, so that all members may g
: their thrashing finished in about fl
teen days. All thrashing is complete
:, in seasonable time, so that the graf
:. NAV be saved to best advantage.
Advantage of Rings.
r There are two general methods
d ring cooperation, the most common i
= volving the hiring of thrashing ou
e fit, the other its purchase.
Il Thrashing rings are beneficial ina
# much as the thrashing calendar in
o neighborhood may be so arranged tn
e the work can be carried out with Il
o least possible loss Of time in movil
e. from farm to farm. AS a job nea
e completion the first men throug
knowing their assignments in the ne
place, may go there Immediately al
have the grain ready to thrash by t
'e time the outfit arrives and is set U
ID No time is lost either in contractil
n ing crew. Certain men may be us
ei to best advantage by assigning the
a. to one kind of work for the seasC
10 Unless the weather man preven
Il thrashing continues until all the jo
10 are completed in the circle, and tn
little extra work is required in shi
ing wagon boxes or hay leaders. Us
ally the thrashing season is great
- shortened and this favors the time
IL completion of the subsequent Fl
l. work, such as plowing, seeding, d
g tributing manure, and so on. T
> thrashing ring reduces the work of t
ie housewife, as there are less men
S.
r. Few WeIl-Chosen Crops.