In the following estimate of the cost of producing wheat it is assumed that the land is fallowed, and the estimate is based on a yield of 20 bushels per acre:—
| Ploughing once at $1.45 per acre | $1.45 |
| Harrowing three times at 18 cents per acre | 0.54 |
| Cultivating once at $0.60 per acre | 0.60 |
| Drilling at 36 cents per acre | 0.36 |
| Seed, 45 lbs., at 80 cents per bushel | 0.72 |
| Pickling seed | 0.06 |
| Superphosphate, 1/2 cwt. at $1.20 | 0.60 |
| Harvesting with harvester at 72 cents per acre | 0.72 |
| Seven bags at $1.60 per dozen | 0.84 |
| $4.89 |
The Stripper at work.
If the land is not fallowed and the seed sown immediately after ploughing, the cost is correspondingly less. The above figures are the cost if the work is done on contract. If it is done by weekly hired labour the work comes out about 30 per cent. cheaper, as will be seen by the following figures:—
Ploughing: Wages, one man at $6.00 per week; man's rations, $2.40 per week; feed for four horses for week, $9.60; total, $18.00. One man with four horses in a three-furrow plough will do 22 acres in six days at a cost of less than $0.84 per acre. Drilling: Man's wages, $6.00; rations, $2.40; horsefeed, three horses, $7.20; total, $7.80. He will drill 90 acres in six days at that cost, or less than $0.18 per acre. Other operations cost similarly less, but in all cases wear and depreciation of plant and interest on capital invested in plant should be allowed for.
These figures, however, concern cases where labour is employed. The following figures show the outlay where a man is doing the work himself. He could plough, cultivate, and sow 250 acres, which would take him twenty-two weeks. The first year he has to purchase his seed wheat and feed for his horses:—
| 190 bushels seed wheat at $0.80 per bushel | $153.60 |
| 10 tons chaff at $19.20 per ton | 192.00 |
| $345.60 |
Approximately $1.38 per acre.