The spectator., 1919-07-22

Prepared by the United States Depart l ment of Agriculture)
 When 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 ! 1t any wonder that the countryman 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 neighborhood the same day, the expense of custom thrashing. the careless and extrava- gant 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 United States department of agricul- turc. 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 S3.275, and the equipment included a 2O-horsepower steam engine, Q water tank, q separator. with a 34-inch cy- finder. a corn sheller and a second hand Silage cutter, which has been re- placed by 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 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 ? 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,OOO. which represents the cost of small 22-inch separator, with clover-seed attachment, the power being furnished by 12-24 farm tractor. These farms aggregate 400 acres of small grain. a little outside thrashing for hire being done each year Last year 2,SOO bush- els of oats, 5000 bushels of wheat and 100 bushels of clover seed were thrashed. The ordinary crew was made up of five men, with teams and wagons to haul bundles; two men. with 125-bushel wagon beds to haul grain three miles; one man to manage the outfit, and q boy to help. Bundle wagons were used to replace two or three field pitchers. while the use of a gas engine also dispenses with the water boy. The engineer has time to help considerably about the separator. With this small force this outfit was able to thrash and deliver to the ele- vator three miles distant. m average of approximately 75O bushels of wheat a day.
 Smaller Units Favored.
 During the last two or three years the number of thrashing outfits sold 10 farm organizations has greatly in- creased. and the tendency at present Is toward the formation of smaller CO., operative units and the purchase of small outfits. This comes from the ne- cessty for more economical use of labor and the advent of the farm trac- tor. the power of which can be we'll utilized to run small thrasher. which, complete with a wind stacker. self-feeder and weigher, costs about S1 200. Most of the farmers clubs are small, so that all members may get their thrashing finished in about fif- teen days. All thrashing is completed in seasonable time. so that the grain may be saved to best advantage.
 Advantage of Rinss.
 There are two general methods of ring cooperation. the most common in- volving the hiring of thrashing out fit, the other its purchase. Thrashing rings are beneficial inas- much as the thrashing calendar in . neIghborhood may be so arranged that the work can be carried out with the lenst possible loss of time in moving from farm to farm. As a job hears completion the first men through. knowing their assignments in the next place. may go there immediately and have the grnin ready 10 thrash by the ime the outfit arrives and h set up. b time Is lost eltAeg n contraeting