University of California 
 College of Agriculture 
 Agricultural Experiment Station 
 Berkeley, California 
 
 SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS 
 SOLANO COUNTY 
 (Excluding Delta Lands) 
 Progress Report No. 48 
 
 by 
 
 R. L. Adams 
 Preliminary — Subject to Correction 
 November, 1936 
 
 Contribution from the 
 Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics 
 Mimeographed Report No. 53 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CAL1F0RMA. 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 BRANCH OF THE 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
 
(Farm Labor Survey — July-December, 19-36) 
 
 Frogress Report No. 48 
 
 Seasonal Labor Weeds of California Crops 
 
 Solano County 
 (Excluding Delta Lands) 
 
 Scope cf I resentation . — The following considerations govern the presentation 
 of this progress report: 
 
 1. The data are confined to the area indicated above. 
 
 2. The data are confined solely to crops, livestock needs being ignored. 
 
 3. The findings apply only to occasional or seasonal labor requirements 
 
 as distinguished from labor contributed by farm operators and by workers employed 
 on a year-round or regular basis of employment. 
 
 4. Attention is concentrated upon workers required for hand tasks — 
 planting, thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters, 
 tractor drivers, irrigators, and shed packers of vegetables or fruits. 
 
 5. The presentation includes the so-called migratory, transient, or roving 
 workers which comprise an important source of help needed in connection with 
 certain tasks and at "peak" times which seasonally arise in connection with many 
 field, truck, and fruit crops commercially produced in California. 
 
 6. This report is confined to California's need for seasonal agricultural 
 workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection there- 
 with. A later study is planned which will deal with other kinds of labor involved 
 in the production of California's many crops. 
 
 Brief Description of the Area. — Solano County is one of the central counties 
 of California, and is located about midway between the cities of San Francisco and 
 Sacramento, and north of the mouth of the combined Sacramento and San Joaquin 
 rivers, from their juactisn to San Fablo Bay. On the north it is bounded by Yolo 
 County; and on the west by Napa County, the line following an irregular course 
 along the Vaca Mountains. On the east and south it is separated from Sacramento 
 and Contra Costa counties respectively, by the Sacramento River, which, after 
 following a general southerly course, curves westward and joined by the San Joaquin 
 River flows into the Bay. The county is ouite irregular in shape, its extreme 
 dimensions being about 32 miles north and south by about 44 miles east and west. 
 It has an area of 526,080 acres, of which 365,941 acres are classed as available 
 for crops by the 1935 Census. This is further classified by the Census as follows: 
 
 Crop land harvested 
 Crop failure 
 
 Crop land idle or fallow 
 Flowable pasture 
 
 Acreage 
 169,556 
 
 2,882 
 
 Total 
 
 43,482 
 150,021 
 365,941 
 
 (Note: This table includes the whole county, a portion of which lies in the 
 Delta and is excluded from this report ) 
 
There are several agricultural districts in the area — one of these is the 
 Suisun Valley, contiguous to the cities of Suisun and Fairfield, largely used for 
 the production of fruits. It is about 4 .miles in width at the lower end, and 
 extends for about 7 miles in length, becoming narrower as it approaches the upper 
 end. Most of this district is under 100 feet in elevation above sea level. 
 
 Another district, roughly 10 miles square, and lying in the southern part of 
 the county, is known as the Montezuma Hills. It is quite rolling in topography, 
 with elevations up to about 250 feet, and is extensively used for grain production. 
 A third district, contiguous to Vacaville, is noted for fruit production. A fourth 
 includes an area about 12 miles square in the vicinity of Dixon, which is largely 
 used for alfalfa, grain and field crops. It is mostly under 75 feet in elevation, 
 and quite flat in topography. 
 
 The soils of the county are mostly of the heavier textures, ranging from 
 loam and silty-olay loam to clay adobe. The valley soils, upon which most of the 
 fruit is grown, are largely silty-clay loam, 6 feet or more in depth. The soils 
 in the Montezuma Hills are heavier textured being mostly clay adobe from 3 to 6 
 feet in depth. 
 
 Crops, Acreage, and Production . — The basis used in calculating occasional or 
 seasonal need for labor, other than that furnished by farm operators and regularly 
 employed workers appears as table 1. This table does not include that portion of 
 the county which lies in the Delta, since the Delta, including portions of 5 
 counties, is considered as a separate unit in Progress Report No. 59, Due to lack 
 of assembled data , acreage and production figures shown in table 1 are estimates 
 based on information obtained from various sources. They are believed to represent 
 conditions with a fair degree of accuracy. 
 
 TABLE 1 
 
 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements — Solano County 
 
 (Excluding Delta Lands) 
 
 Crops 
 
 Acreage 
 
 Production 
 
 Field crops: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alfalfa 
 
 5,600 
 
 33,600 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Grain — wheat, barley, oats 
 
 82,000 
 
 
 
 
 Grain — sorghums* 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hay (other than alfalfa) 
 
 16,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Sugar beets 
 
 655 
 
 8,515 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Vegetable crops: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Tomatoes 
 
 692 
 
 4,844 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Fruit and nut crops : 
 
 
 
 
 
 Almonds 
 
 1,182 
 
 420 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Apples* 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 
 Apricots 
 
 4,042 
 
 (6,500 
 
 tons 
 
 dried (fresh weight) f 
 
 
 
 (2,000 
 
 tons 
 
 sold fresh 
 
 Cherries 
 
 608.4 
 
 (120 
 
 tons 
 
 barrelled 
 
 Figs (mostly I'ission) 
 
 
 (200 
 
 tons 
 
 shipped 
 
 256 
 
 140 
 
 tons 
 
 (dry weight) 
 
 Grapes (table varieties) 
 
 504 
 
 2,000 
 
 tons 
 
 
 (wine varieties) 
 
 1,056 
 
 4,000 
 
 tons 
 
 
 Table continued on next page 
 
Table 1 continued 
 
 Crops 
 
 Acreage 
 
 Production 
 
 Fruit and nut crops : 
 ( continued) 
 
 Feaches (practically all 
 
 freestone) 
 Pears (mostly Bartlett)T 
 
 Plums 
 F runes 
 Walnuts* 
 
 2,449 
 3,073 
 
 3,315 
 6,276 
 252 
 
 12,265 tons dried (fresh weight )t 
 
 (4,000 tons sold fresh 
 
 (2,250 tons dried (fresh weight)! 
 
 2,000 tons (152 cars) 
 16,000 tons (fresh weight)t 
 191,000 pounds <p 
 
 *Use of seasonal labor inconsequential on these crops, and hence has been 
 ignored. 
 
 t Drying ratios aa used in this report are: 
 
 Apricots 5.50 pounds fresh to 1 pound dried. 
 
 Peaches 5.50 pounds fresh to 1 pound dried. 
 
 Fears 5.00 pounds fresh to 1 pound dried. 
 
 Prunes 2.25 pounds fresh to 1 pound dried. 
 
 tPear crop was light in 1935 — normally is about 13,000 tons. 
 
 £ Walnut production reported by the Control Board was 158,600 pounds merchantable 
 nuts — 17 per cent additional has been added for culls. 
 
 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Time of 'Meed . — Farm operations 
 requiring the use of seasonal labor for the various crops raised in Solano County 
 (excluding that part of the county lying in the Delta) are indicated in table 2. 
 This tabulation does not include the employing of shed workers needed to wash, pack, 
 and prepare various commodities for shipping and marketing. 
 
 TABLE 2 
 
 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Time of Need by Crops 
 Solano County, (Excluding Delta Lands) 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man -day 
 
 Field crops 
 Alfalfa 
 
 Grain 
 
 Mowing 
 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 
 Baling — 
 not done generally 
 — mostly fed loose 
 or ground for meal 
 
 Harvesting 
 
 Apr . 
 
 to 
 Oct. 
 
 1 ) / 
 
 j 5/7 of acreage 
 
 g-jj each month 
 
 June 1-30 — 60 per ) 
 cent of acreage) 
 July 1-31 — 40 per ) 
 
 cent of acreage) 
 
 50 
 
 80 
 80 
 
 7.5 acres 
 15 acres 
 
 30 acres 
 
 5 acres 
 5 acres 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
,a. 
 
4. 
 
 Table 2 continued 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operati on 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Field crops: 
 (continued) 
 Hay, other 
 than al- 
 falfa 
 
 Suo;ar beets 
 
 Mowing 
 Raking 
 Shocking 
 
 Balinfr — 90 per 
 cent of crop 
 
 Thinning 
 
 Hoeing — 
 
 2 times 
 Topping and 
 
 loading 
 
 Vegetable 
 crops : 
 Tomatoes ! 
 
 Transplanting 
 Flanting 
 
 Hoeing — 
 1 time 
 
 Ficking 
 
 Fruit and 
 nut crops : 
 Almonds 
 
 Knocking 
 
 May — all acreage 
 May — all acreage 
 May — all acreage 
 May — 50 per cent of ) 
 
 job ) 
 June — 50 per cent of) 
 
 job ) 
 
 ^eb. — 10 per cent 
 of acreage 
 
 March — 40 per cent 
 of acreage 
 
 April — 35 per cent 
 of acreage 
 
 May mm 15 per cent of 
 acreage 
 
 May — all of acreage ) 
 June — all of acreage) 
 July — 11 per cent of) 
 
 crop ) 
 August — 40 per cent ) 
 
 of crop ) 
 Sept. — 26 per cent 
 
 of crop ) 
 Oct. — 23 per cent ) 
 
 of crop 
 
 Feb. 15-28 -- all of) 
 
 job ) 
 Apr. 25-30 — 25 per) 
 
 cent of acreage) 
 May 1-15 — 75 per ) 
 cent of acreage ) 
 May — 50 per cent of) 
 acreage ) 
 June — 50 per cent ) 
 of acreage ) 
 Aug. 15-31 — 15 per) 
 
 cent of crop ) 
 Sept. 1-30 — 45 per) 
 
 cent of crop ) 
 Oct. 1-31 — 40 per ) 
 
 cent of crop ) 
 
 Aug. 6-31 — 50 per ) 
 cent of crop ) 
 Sept. 1-30 — 50 per) 
 cent of crop ) 
 
 80 
 80 
 80 
 
 90 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 7.5 acres 
 15 acres 
 30 acres 
 
 5 tons 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 1,5 acres 
 
 6 tons 
 
 5,000 
 plants 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 2 acres 
 
 2,500 
 
 pounds 
 
 280 pounds 
 
 (■varies 
 greatly) 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man -day 
 
 Almonds : 
 (continued) 
 
 Apri cots 
 
 Cherries 
 
 Fitrs 
 
 Hulling — by 
 machine 
 
 Pruning 
 
 Thinning 
 
 Picking 
 
 Cutting for 
 drying 
 
 Other labor 
 in dry yards 
 
 Picking for 
 canning 
 
 Picking for 
 shippingt — 
 3 or 4 times 
 
 Facking for 
 shipping 
 
 Picking up for 
 drying 
 
 Treating with gas, 
 drying, sorting, 
 and sacking 
 
 Aug. 6-31 — 50 per 
 cent of crop 
 
 Sept. 1-30 — 50 per 
 cent of crop 
 
 Nov. — 75 per cent) 
 of acreage ) 
 Dec. — 25 per cent) 
 of acreage ) 
 Apr. 15-30 — 50 per 
 
 cent of acreage 
 May 1-15 — 50 per 
 
 cent of acreage 
 June 10-30 — 40 per 
 
 cent of crop 
 July 1-15 — 60 per 
 
 cent of crop 
 June 25-30 — 25 per. 
 
 cent of job 
 July 1-15 — 75 per 
 
 cent of job 
 June 25-30 — 20 per 
 
 cent of job 
 July 1-20 — 80 per 
 
 cent of job 
 
 May 1-20 — all of 
 
 crop 
 
 , 15-30 — none in 
 
 Apr, 
 
 May 
 
 1935 
 
 1-31 70 per cent 
 
 of crop 
 June 1-10 -- 30 per 
 
 cent of crop 
 Apr. 15-30 mm none in 
 1935 
 
 May 1-31 — 70 per cent 
 of crop (12 cars) 
 
 June 1-10 — 30 per cent 
 of crop (5 cars) 
 
 Aug. 15»3] — 50 per 
 cent of dry ton 
 na^-e 
 
 Sept. 1-15 — 50 per 
 
 cent of dry 
 tonnage 
 
 Aug. 15-31 — 50 per 
 
 cent of dry tonnage 
 Sept. 1-15 -- 50 per 
 cent of dry 
 tonnage 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 400 to 700 
 pounds 
 (average 
 500 
 pounds) 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 1,000 
 
 pounds 
 
 600 
 pounds 
 
 11 hours 
 per fresh 
 ton* 
 
 225 
 
 pounds 
 
 150 
 
 pounds 
 
 15 boxes 
 
 = 225 
 pounds 
 
 666 
 
 pounds 
 
 about 40 
 hours per 
 dry ton 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
6 
 
 Table 2 continued 
 
 Crop 
 
 Fruit and 
 nut crops : 
 ( continued) 
 Grapes 
 
 Peaches — 
 freestone 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Pruning 
 
 Hoeing 
 1 time — 50 
 per cent of 
 acreage 
 
 Suckering — 
 20 per cent of 
 acreage 
 
 Picking 
 
 Frunine; 
 
 Dec. — l/3 of acreage) 
 Jan. — l/3 of acreage) 
 Feb. — l/3 of acreage) 
 
 Mar. 1-31 — 50 per cent) 
 
 of job ) 
 
 Apr. 1-20 — 50 per cent) 
 
 of job ) 
 
 May 15-31 — 20 per cent) 
 of acreage ) 
 
 Sept. 10-30 — 50 per) 
 cent of crop ) 
 Oct. 1-20 mm 50 per ) 
 cent of crop ) 
 
 Oct. — a small amount ) 
 
 Thinning 
 
 Picking 
 
 Cutting for 
 drying 
 
 Other dry-yard 
 work 
 
 Nov. 
 
 — 25 per cent 
 
 of) 
 
 
 acreage 
 
 ) 
 
 Dec. 
 
 — 25 por cent 
 
 of) 
 
 
 acreage 
 
 ) 
 
 Jan. 
 
 — 25 per cent 
 
 of) 
 
 
 acreage 
 
 ) 
 
 Feb. 
 
 — 25 per cent 
 
 of) 
 
 
 acreage 
 
 ) 
 
 Apr. 15-30 mm 50 per cent) 
 of job ) 
 May 1-15 — 50 per cent ) 
 of job ) 
 
 July 20-31 ~ 25 per cent) 
 of crop ) 
 Aug, 1-31 -- 75 per cent ) 
 of crop ) 
 
 July 20-31 — 25 per cent) 
 of job ) 
 Aug. 1-31 — 75 per cent ) 
 of job ) 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 July 20-31 — 20 per cent) 
 of job ) 
 Aug. 1-31 — 70 per cent ) 
 of job ) 
 Sept. 1-7 — 10 per cent ) 
 of .job ) 
 
 ~ Table continued on next page. 
 
 Output per 
 man -day 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 0,75 acre 
 
 2,000 pounds 
 
 .25 acre 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 3,000 
 pounds 
 
 2,000 pounds 
 
 3.1 l/2 hours 
 per fresh 
 ton dried 
 
7. 
 
 Table 2 continued 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Fruit and 
 nut crops : 
 ( continued) 
 Pears 
 
 Plums 
 
 Pruning 
 
 Brush burning 
 
 Picking 
 
 Cutting for 
 drying 
 
 Other labor in 
 dry yard 
 
 Pruning ~ 50 
 per cent of 
 acreage 
 
 Nov. 1-30 — 10 per cent) 
 
 of acreage ) 
 
 Dec. 1-31 — 30 per cent) 
 
 of acreage ) 
 
 Jan. 1-31 — 30 per cent} 
 
 of acreage ) 
 
 Feb. 1-28 — 25 per cent) 
 
 of acreage ) 
 Mar. 1-15 — 5 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 
 Nov. 1-30 
 cent 
 Dec. 1-31 
 cent 
 Jan. 1-31 
 cent 
 Feb. 1-28 
 cent 
 1-15 
 cent 
 
 Mar. 
 
 — 10 per ) 
 of acreage) 
 
 — 30 per ) 
 of acreage) 
 
 — 30 per ) 
 of acreage) 
 
 — 25 per ) 
 of acreage) 
 
 — 5 per ) 
 of acreage) 
 
 July 
 
 6-31 — 25 per) 
 
 
 cent of crop ) 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1_31 — 75 per) 
 
 
 cent of crop ) 
 
 July 
 
 15-31 — 25 per) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1_31 — 60 per ) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 Sept 
 
 , 1-15 — 15 per) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 July 15-31 — 25 per) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1_31 — 50 per ) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 Sept, 
 
 1_20 — 25 per) 
 
 
 cent of job ) 
 
 Dec . 
 
 — 5 per cent of ) 
 
 
 acreage ) 
 
 Jan. 
 
 — 20 per cent of) 
 
 
 acreage ) 
 
 Feb. 
 
 — 20 per cent of) 
 
 
 acreage ) 
 
 Mar. 
 
 — 5 per cent of ) 
 
 
 acreage ) 
 
 ICO 
 
 0.20 acre 
 
 100 
 
 4 acres 
 
 1C0 
 
 1,400 pounds 
 
 100 
 
 800 pounds 
 
 100 
 
 26 1/2 hours 
 per fresh 
 ton 
 
 100 
 
 0,5 acre 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
1 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
Table 2 continued 
 
 Crop 
 
 Plums 
 (continued) 
 
 Prunes 
 
 Operation 
 
 Thinning 
 
 Picking 
 
 Pruning 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 Picking up 
 
 Dipping and 
 drying 50 
 per cent by 
 dehydrator 
 
 Time of need by month 
 
 Apr. 15-30 — 50 per) 
 cent of acreage) 
 May 1-15 — 50 per ) 
 cent of acreage ) 
 
 June 
 
 1-30 
 
 
 33 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 crop J 
 
 July 
 
 1-31 
 
 
 28 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 crop ) 
 
 Aug. 
 
 J. — OA 
 
 
 oy per j 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 crop ) 
 
 Oct. 
 
 15-31 
 
 
 ■ 20 per) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Nov. 
 
 1-30 
 
 
 40 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Dec . 
 
 1-31 
 
 
 40 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Oct. 
 
 15-31 
 
 
 ■ 20 per) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Nov. 
 
 1-30 
 
 
 40 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Dec . 
 
 1-31 
 
 
 40 per ) 
 
 
 cent 
 
 of 
 
 acreage) 
 
 Aug. 
 
 15-31 
 
 
 ■1/3 of crop) 
 
 Sept ■ 
 
 Aug. 
 
 1-30 — 2/3 of 
 crop 
 
 15-31 
 crop 
 Sept. 1-30 
 crop 
 
 — 1/3 of) 
 
 ) 
 
 — 2/3 of) 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 0.33 acre 
 paries 
 greatly) 
 
 1,200 pounds 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 4 acres 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 8.3 hours 
 per fresh 
 ton* 
 
 * From Christie, A. W. and L. C. Barnard. The principles and practice 
 of sun-drying fruit. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 388. 1925, 
 
 1" Cherry picking usually starts in April. Cherry crop was light in 
 1935 and later than usual. 
 
 Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs . — Details and summaries of seasonal 
 labor requirements of Solano County agriculture are presented as table 3. The 
 "size of task" are figures drawn from table 1 in terms of either acreage, or out- 
 put in tons, crates, boxes, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "output per 
 man-day" is an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in crates, 
 
T 
 
 i 
 
9. 
 
 hampers, boxes or other units as indicated in the table. If the work is of a 
 nature that requires a crew, different members of which perform different tasks, 
 then the average shown is per man based on the entire crew. Length of day is 9 
 hours, November to February, 10 hours, March to October, unless othervd.se' stated. 
 Wide variations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field, and season 
 and season, because of differences in soil types, climatic conditions, weeds, 
 yields, and other factors influencing the amount of work that a laborer can perform 
 in a given day. Moreover, the basis of output is a mature, experienced male worker 
 without reference to use of women, children, and more or less inexperienced help 
 that is sometimes used in connection with certain of the tasks requiring use of 
 seasonal workers. The column headed "available days" reflects (*) limitations set 
 from the period within which the work must be performed because of the nature of 
 the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, and cutting, and (b) available 
 days as determined by weather conditions, inclement weather reducing the number of 
 days when a required task can be performed. The "required number of individuals" 
 is given in terms of workers as noted above in connection with "output per man-dayl' 
 
 It is probable that the estimated number of workers required, as 
 recorded in table 3, will often be too low, for the reason that "peaks" frequently 
 occur, during which an unusually large proportion of the job is done in a very 
 short period. This -would naturally require a much greater number of workers than 
 when the work is spread over a longer period, even though the total amount of labor 
 (in man-days) remains the taae« 
 
♦ 
 
 4 
 
TABLE 3 
 
 Seasonal Labor Weeds — Solano County — by Months and Tasks 
 
 
 
 
 
 Required 
 
 Available 
 
 Required number 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output per man-day 
 
 man- days 
 
 days 
 
 of workers* 
 
 January 
 
 Grapes: Pruning 
 
 168 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 224 
 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Pruning 
 
 612 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 2,448 
 
 16 
 
 153 
 
 
 Pears: Pruning 
 
 922 acres 
 
 0.2 acre 
 
 4,610 
 
 16 
 
 289 
 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 922 acres 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 231 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 
 Plums: Pruning 
 
 663 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 1,326 
 
 16 
 
 83 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 8,839 
 
 16 
 
 553 man— months 
 
 February 
 
 Sugar beets; Thinning 
 
 66 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 132 
 
 19 
 
 7 
 
 
 Tomatoes: Transplanting 
 
 3,321,600 
 
 5,000 plants 
 
 667 
 
 9 
 
 75 (Feb. 15-28) 
 
 
 
 plants 1" =f 
 
 
 
 
 
 Grapes: Pruning 
 
 168 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 224 
 
 19 
 
 12 
 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Pruning 
 
 613 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 2,452 
 
 19 
 
 130 
 
 
 Pears: Pruning 
 
 768 acres 
 
 0.2 acre 
 
 3,840 
 
 19 
 
 203 
 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 768 acres 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 192 
 
 19 
 
 11 
 
 
 Plums: Pruning 
 
 663 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 1,326 
 
 19 
 
 70 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 8,833 
 
 19 
 
 4-65 man-months 
 
 \S 1IIU.11 II1V11 UllO 
 
 March 
 
 Sugar beets: Thinning 
 
 262 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 524 
 
 19 
 
 28 
 
 
 Grapes: Hoeing 
 
 126 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 168 
 
 19 
 
 9 
 
 
 Pears: Pruning 
 
 154 acres 
 
 0.2 acre 
 
 770 
 
 19 
 
 41 
 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 154 acres 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 39 
 
 19 
 
 3 
 
 
 Plums: Pruning 
 
 166 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 332 
 
 19 
 
 18 
 
 1U 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 1,833 
 
 19 
 
 97 man-months 
 
 April 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 2,000 acres ^ 
 
 7.5 acres 
 
 267 
 
 22 
 
 13 
 
 
 Raking 
 
 2,000 acres t 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 134 
 
 22 
 
 7 
 
 
 Shocking 
 
 2,000 acres + 
 
 30.0 acres 
 
 67 
 
 22 
 
 4 
 
 
 Sugar beets: Thinning 
 
 229 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 458 
 
 22 
 
 21 
 
 
 Tomatoes: Planting 
 
 173 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 231 
 
 5 
 
 47 (Apr. 25-30) 
 
 
 Apricots: Thinning 
 
 2,021 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 8,084 
 
 11 
 
 735 (Apr. 15-30) 
 
 
 Grapes: Hoeing 
 
 126 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 168 
 
 22 
 
 8 
 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Thinning 
 
 1,224 acres 
 
 0»25 acre 
 
 4,896 
 
 11 
 
 446 (Apr. 15-30) 
 
 
 Plums: Thinning 
 
 1,657 acres 
 
 0.33 acre 
 
 5,022 
 
 11 
 
 457 (Aor. 15-30) 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 19.327 
 
 22 
 
 879 man-months 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
5£ ■ ■■ 
 
 i ■ 
 
 .... - - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - - . ■ ■' ' 
 
 
 
* 
 
 Table 3 continued 
 
 Month 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 Hay (other than alfalfa): Mowing 
 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 
 Baling 
 Sugar beets: Thinning 
 
 Hoeing 
 Tomatoes: Planting 
 
 Hoeing 
 Apricots: Thinning 
 Cherries: Picking for canning 
 
 Picking for shipment 
 
 Packing for shipment 
 Grapes: Suckering — 20 per 
 
 cent of acreage 
 Peaches (freestone): Thinning 
 Plums: Thinning 
 
 Totals 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 Grain: Harvesting 
 Hay (other than alfalfa): Baling 
 Sugar beets: Hoeing 
 Tomatoes: Hoeing 
 Apricots: Picking 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 
 Other labor in dry yards 
 Cherries: Picking for shipmei 
 
 Packing for shipment 
 Plums: Picking 
 
 Totals 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 
 
 
 Rpnul r*p H 
 
 ' — ^ v4 vt -a- X w \_i 
 
 A 17 A T 1 A HI 
 
 acouireG nurauGr 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output per man-day 
 
 man— days 
 
 dS-V S 
 
 ui worKers 
 
 2,000 acres + 
 
 7.5 acres 
 
 267 
 
 
 ~\ P 
 
 J. c 
 
 2,000 acres j 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 134 
 
 23 
 
 A 
 \j 
 
 2,000 acres * 
 
 30.0 acres 
 
 67 
 
 23 
 
 
 12,800 acrest 
 
 7.5 acres 
 
 1 , 707 
 
 23 
 
 75 
 
 12,800 acrest 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 854 
 
 23 
 
 38 
 
 12,800 acrest 
 
 30.0 acres 
 
 427 
 
 23 
 
 X *s 
 
 9,000 tons * 
 
 5.0 tons 
 
 1,800 
 
 23 
 
 79 
 
 98 acres 
 
 0.5 acre 
 
 196 
 
 23 
 
 g 
 
 655 acres 
 
 1.5 acres 
 
 437 
 
 23 
 
 
 519 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 692 
 
 11 
 
 63 (May 1-15) 
 
 346 acres 
 
 2.0 acres 
 
 173 
 
 23 
 
 8 
 
 2,021 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 8,084 
 
 11 
 
 735 (May 1-15) 
 
 120 tons 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 1,067 
 
 15 
 
 72 (May 1-20 ) 
 
 140 tons 
 
 150 pounds 
 
 1, 867 
 
 23 
 
 fi? 
 
 140 tons 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 1,245 
 
 23 
 
 
 101 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 135 
 
 X 
 
 IP ( Mn xr 1 R %1 \ 
 
 1,225 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 4,900 
 
 12 
 
 *tvjr? ^ ividy x— XD / 
 
 1,658 acres 
 
 0.33 acre 
 
 5,025 
 
 12 
 
 412 V ivicx.y J_ —x O J 
 
 
 
 29,077 
 
 23 
 
 -L ■ \J *J I MCLI !■* ill W 1 1 b I 1 O 
 
 2,000 acres4 
 
 7.5 acres 
 
 267 
 
 25 
 
 
 2,000 acrest 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 134 
 
 25 
 
 
 2,000 acres* 
 
 30.0 acres 
 
 67 
 
 25 
 
 3 
 
 39,360 acrc-s* 
 
 5.0 acres 
 
 7,872 
 
 25 
 
 315 
 
 9,000 tons f 
 
 5.0 tons 
 
 1,800 
 
 25 
 
 72 
 
 655 acres 
 
 1.5 acres 
 
 437 
 
 25 
 
 18 
 
 346 acres 
 
 2.0 acres 
 
 173 
 
 25 
 
 7 
 
 3,400 tons 
 
 1,000.0 pounds 
 
 6, 800 
 
 1 7 
 
 A f 
 
 Ann (iiiYio in ^ 
 4uu \oune xu — jU j 
 
 1,525 tons 
 
 600.0 pounds 
 
 5,417 
 
 5 
 
 1 OP,A 1 Tnno pc; 
 
 1,300 tons 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 1 , 445 
 
 5 
 
 PPQ f Tnna 
 
 60 tons 
 
 150 pounds 
 
 800 
 
 « 
 
 H 
 
 inn / Turin T in\ 
 
 60 tons 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 534 
 
 8 
 
 67 (June 1-10) 
 
 660 tons 
 
 600.0 pounds 
 
 1 1 OO 
 
 J- t lvW 
 
 P^ 
 
 /I A 
 
 
 
 26.846 
 
 25 
 
 1,074 man-months 
 
 2,000 acresf 
 
 7.5 acres 
 
 267 
 
 26 
 
 11 
 
 2,000 acres* 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 134 
 
 26 
 
 6 
 
 2,000 acresf 
 
 30.0 acres 
 
 67 
 
 26 
 
 3 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
I? 
 
 . u 
 
Table 5 continued. 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output per man-day 
 
 Required 
 man-days 
 
 Available 
 days 
 
 Required number 
 of workers* 
 
 July 
 (cont . ) 
 
 August 
 
 Grain: Harve sting 
 
 Sugar beets: Topping and loading 
 
 Apricots: Picking 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Picking 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 Other dry -yard labor 
 Pears: Picking 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 Plums; Picking 
 
 Totals 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 Raking 
 
 Shocking 
 
 Sugar beets: Topping and loading 
 Tomatoes: Picking 
 
 Almonds: Knocking 
 
 Hulling by hand 
 Figs: Picking up for drying 
 
 Treating with gas, drying, 
 sorting, and sacking 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Picking 
 Cutting for drying 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 26,240 acres ¥ 
 937 tons 
 5,100 tons 
 4,875 tons 
 5,200 tons 
 3,068 tons 
 
 3,066 tons 
 
 2,453 tons 
 
 1,563 tons 
 
 563 tons 
 
 563 tons 
 
 560 tons 
 
 5.0 acres 
 6.0 tons 
 1000.0 pounds 
 600.0 pounds 
 
 V 
 
 3,000.0 pounds 
 2,000.0 pounds 
 
 1,400.0 pounds 
 
 800.0 pounds 
 
 k 
 1 
 
 1.200.0 pounds 
 
 5,248 
 157 
 10,200 
 16,250 
 5,778 
 2,046 
 
 3,066 
 
 2,820 
 
 2,233 
 
 1,408 
 
 1,482 
 
 934 
 
 26 
 26 
 13 
 17 
 17 
 S 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 21 
 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 
 52.090 
 
 26 
 
 2,000 acres f 
 2,000 acres4 
 2,000 acres f 
 3,406 tons 
 727 tons 
 
 210 tons 
 105 tons t 
 70 tons 
 
 70 tons 
 
 9,199 tons 
 9,199 tons 
 8,585 tons 
 
 7.5 acres 
 15.0 acres 
 30.0 acres 
 6.0 tons 
 1.25 tons 
 
 280 pounds 
 500 pounds 
 666 pounds 
 
 3,000 pounds 
 2,000 pounds 
 i 
 
 267 
 134 
 67 
 568 
 582 
 
 1,500 
 420 
 213 
 
 280 
 
 6,133 
 9,199 
 9,868 
 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 13 
 
 21 
 21 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 
 202 
 7 
 
 785 
 956 
 340 
 228 
 
 341 
 
 314 
 
 107 
 
 109 
 
 114 
 
 (July 1-15) 
 (July 1-20) 
 (July 1-20) 
 (July 20- 
 31) 
 
 (July 
 
 20-31 ) 
 (July 
 
 20-31) 
 (July 
 
 6-31) 
 (July 
 
 15-31) 
 (July 
 
 15-31) 
 
 36 
 
 2,004 man-months 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 3 
 22 
 45 
 
 72 
 20 
 17 
 
 (Aug. 
 
 15-31) 
 (Aug.6-31) 
 (Aug. 6-31) 
 (Aug. 
 
 15-31) 
 
 22 (Aug. 
 
 15-31) 
 
 236 
 354 
 380 
 
 Table continued on next page. h 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 .1 n H / yniu • 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .» * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 c - ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■•■ -.- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 „ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ♦ * * 
 
 I • ■ 
 
Table 3 continued. 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output per man-day 
 
 Required 
 man-days 
 
 Available 
 days 
 
 Required number 
 of workers* 
 
 August 
 ( cont • ) 
 
 Pears: Picking 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 Plums: Picking 
 Prunes: Picking up 
 
 4,o87 tons 
 1,350 tons 
 1,125 tons 
 780 tons 
 5,333 tons 
 
 1,400 pounds 
 800 pounds 
 
 1,200 pounds 
 1,500.0 pounds 
 
 6,696 
 3,375 
 2,961 
 1,300 
 7,111 
 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 13 
 
 258 
 130 
 114 
 50 
 
 547 (Aug. 
 
 
 Dipping and drying 
 
 4,800 tons 0 
 
 i 
 
 4,000 
 
 13 
 
 15-31) 
 308 (Aug. 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 
 
 15-31) 
 
 September 
 
 
 
 54,674 
 
 26 
 
 2,103 man-months 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 Raking 
 Shocking 
 
 Sugar beets: Topping and loading 
 
 Tnmflf ADO ■ D i r*\r \ vi rr 
 X UIIlCL lUcb. Xr X CJ\ X Ilg 
 
 Almonds: Knocking 
 
 Hill 1 Tyirr \"\\T mophi 
 
 nuxx-Liig oy macnine 
 Figs: Picking up for drying 
 
 Treating with gas, drying, 
 sorting, and sacking 
 
 2,000 acres * 
 2,000 acres4 
 2,000 acres 4 
 2,214 tons 
 2,180 tons 
 210 tons 
 iuo tons t 
 70 tons 
 
 70 tons 
 
 7.5 acres 
 15.0 acres 
 30.0 acres 
 6.0 tons 
 1 .25 tons 
 280 pounds 
 500 pounds 
 666 pounds 
 
 c< 
 
 267 
 134 
 67 
 369 
 1,744 
 1,500 
 420 
 213 
 
 PRO 
 
 www 
 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 26 
 13 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 15 
 68 
 58 
 17 
 
 17 (Sept. 
 1-15) 
 
 OO ( Q on + 
 
 
 \J1 ay o o . r X Kj&XHq 
 
 1,000 tons 
 
 1.0 ton 
 
 1,000 
 
 17 
 
 1-15) 
 59 (Sept. 
 
 
 a clkj iico \ x x ceo tvnc y • \j eric- x 
 
 
 
 
 
 10-30) 
 
 
 dry-yard labor 
 
 1,227 tons 
 
 
 1,411 
 
 6 
 
 236 (Sept. 
 
 
 rears: Cutting for drying 
 
 337 tons 
 
 800 pounds 
 
 843 
 
 13 
 
 1-7) 
 65 (Sept. 
 
 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 562 tons 
 
 k | 
 
 1,482 
 
 17 
 
 1-15) 
 88 (Sept. 
 
 
 Prunes: Picking up 
 
 Dipping and drying 
 
 10,667 tons 
 9,600 tonef 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 14,223 
 8.000 
 
 26 
 26 
 
 1-20 ) 
 
 548 
 308 
 
 October 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 31 ,953 
 
 26 
 
 1,229 man-months 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 Raking 
 Shocking 
 
 2,000 acres f 
 2,000 acresf 
 2,000 acres ^ 
 
 7.5 acre 
 15.0 acres 
 30.0 acres 
 
 267 
 134 
 67 
 
 24 
 24 
 24 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 3 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Table 3 continued 
 
 Month 
 
 H v* n n taqV 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output oer man-dav 
 
 Required 
 man-davs 
 
 Available 
 davs 
 
 Required number 
 of workers* 
 
 October 
 (cont . ) 
 
 SllCTAT 1 htPP+cj* Tnnni riff c.v\ r\ 1 r\ <s A n **> r* 
 
 Tomatoes: Picking 
 
 1,958 tons 
 1,937 tons 
 1,000 tons 
 
 6.0 tons 
 1.25 tons 
 1.0 ton 
 
 327 
 1,550 
 1,000 
 
 24 
 24 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 65 
 
 63 (Oct. 
 
 
 Prunes: Pruning 
 
 1,256 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 5,024 
 
 12 
 
 1-20) 
 419 (Oct. 
 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 1,256 acres 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 314 
 
 12 
 
 15-31) 
 27 (Oct. 
 
 
 Totals 
 Apricots: Pruning 
 reaches 1, freestone ; : Pruning 
 Pears: Pruning 
 
 Burning brush 
 Prunes: Pruning 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 
 
 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 
 
 8,683 
 
 24 
 
 362 man-months 
 
 November 
 
 3,032 acres 
 612 acres 
 307 acres 
 307 acres 
 2,510 acres 
 2,510 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 0.2 acre 
 4.0 acres 
 0.25 acre 
 4.0 acres 
 
 12,128 
 2,448 
 1,535 
 77 
 
 10 , 040 
 628 
 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 
 578 
 117 
 
 73 
 4 
 478 
 
 30 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 
 
 26,856 
 
 21 
 
 1,279 man-months 
 
 December 
 
 Apricots: Pruning 
 
 Grapes: Pruning 
 
 Peaches (freestone): Pruning 
 
 Pears: Pruning 
 
 Burning brush 
 Plums: Pruning 
 Prunes: Pruning 
 
 Burning brush 
 
 Totals 
 
 1,010 acres 
 168 acres 
 612 
 
 922 acres 
 
 QPP ar-rpQ 
 
 166 acres 
 2,510 acres 
 2,510 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 0.75 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 0.2 acre 
 4.0 acres 
 0.5 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 4.0 acres 
 
 4,040 
 224 
 2,448 
 4,610 
 231 
 332 
 10,040 
 628 
 22,553 
 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 
 225 
 
 13 
 136 
 257 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 558 
 
 35 
 
 1,253 man-months 
 
 * On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted. 
 
 t Twenty per cent added to care for replanting. 
 
 f Estimated portion of job done by seasonal workers. 
 
 <$ Dry-yard labor, other than cutting, estimated as follows: 
 
 Apricots — 11 man-hours per fresh ton. 
 Figs — 40 man-hours per dry ton. 
 
 Peaches — 11.5 man-hours per fresh ton. ^ 
 Pears 26.5 man-hours per fresh ton. Prunes — 8.3 man-hours per fresh ton. " 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ f ■ * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. 
 
 TABLE 4 
 
 Summary of Seasonal Labor Weeds by Months 
 Solano County 
 1935 
 
 Month 
 
 Required man-days 
 of seasonal labor 
 
 Available 
 work days 
 
 Required man-months 
 of seasonal labor 
 
 January 
 
 8,839 
 
 16 
 
 553 
 
 February 
 
 8,833 
 
 19 
 
 465 
 
 March 
 
 1,333 
 
 19 
 
 97 
 
 April 
 
 19,327 
 
 22 
 
 879 
 
 May 
 
 29,077 
 
 23 
 
 1,265 
 
 June 
 
 26,846 
 
 25 
 
 1,074 
 
 July 
 
 52,090 
 
 26 
 
 2,004 
 
 August 
 
 54,674 
 
 26 
 
 2,103 
 
 September 
 
 31,953 
 
 26 
 
 1,229 
 
 October 
 
 8,683 
 
 24 
 
 362 
 
 November 
 
 26,856 
 
 21 
 
 1,279 
 
 December 
 
 22,553 
 
 18 
 
 1,253 
 
 Total 
 
 291,564 
 
 
 12,563 
 
I 
 
 J 
 
16. 
 
 Motes 
 
 Motes on Table 2 . — Data concerning "time of need" as shown in this table 
 break down required seasonal labor into the period when the work is performed in 
 order to permit a subsequent determination of labor needs by months (table 3). 
 Some operations are performed only to a limited extent by seasonal workers. For 
 instance, only about 80 per cent of the work in harvesting grain is estimated to 
 have been done by seasonal workers. This having been done in two different months, 
 a portion was assigned to each. 
 
 The amount of work done each month is based on the cropping system followed 
 during 1935. The allotting of amounts of work is based on findings concerning 
 local farm practices and required time to "make" a crop resulting from inquiry of 
 producers and records of carlot shipments* the latter proving helpful in fixing 
 dates of plantings and of subsequent tasks involved in producing certain crops. 
 Proportionate amounts of output harvested each month were determined from data of 
 local practices with respect to harvesting, and from carlot shipments of perishable 
 products. Records of truck shipments were also used when available. 
 
 Motes on Table 5 . — Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as worked 
 out for Solano County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. The data are 
 presented by months with the tasks which were performed in each month indicated by 
 both crop and task. The size of the job was calculated from the data appearing in 
 table 1 (acreage and production) and table 2 (task, time of performance, and per- 
 centage of work pertinent to a given month) . The output per man-day was calculated 
 as indicated in the foreword presenting table 3. The number of required man-days 
 is a result of dividing the size of task bv output per man-day. The available days 
 for the different tasks involve two variables. The first is the number of days 
 when field work is possible because of favorable weather conditions. The basis for 
 this column was determined from a study of tho monthly weather charts of the 
 United States Weather Bureau for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935. These data in- 
 dicated available days per month as follows (based on a 26-day working month 
 without allowance for holidays): 
 
 Month 
 
 Available 
 
 Length of 
 
 Month 
 
 Available 
 
 Length of 
 
 
 days* 
 
 work day 
 
 
 days * 
 
 work day 
 
 
 
 hours 
 
 
 
 hours 
 
 January 
 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 July 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 February 
 
 19 
 
 9 
 
 August 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 March 
 
 19 
 
 10 
 
 September 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 April 
 
 22 
 
 10 
 
 October 
 
 24 
 
 10 
 
 May 
 
 23 
 
 10 
 
 November 
 
 21 
 
 9 
 
 June 
 
 25 
 
 10 
 
 December 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 * Based on precipitation records of tho Vacavillo station of the IT. S. 
 Weather Bureau for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935. 
 
 The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of 
 the job. If tho output was small in amount, "then the number of days was limited to 
 the time needed to do the work efficiently. If a field operation had to be per- 
 formed in a period less than the number of available days in tho month, then the 
 specific number of days was noted. These restrictions are shown in parentheses. 
 For example, in May the thinning of apricots was limited to 11 days in the first- 
 
17. 
 
 half of the month; cherry picking for canning to 15 days, etc. 
 
 The totals of table 3 show the total required man-days of needed seasonal 
 labor, the available days for field work during the month, and the number of men 
 (as defined in the opening paragraph of table 3) required on a monthly basis to 
 care for the tasks ordinarily performed by seasonal workers. 
 
 In an area such as Solano County, involving a substantial area of field and 
 truck crops, the findings as set forth in this report are bound to fluctuate 
 materially from year to year, because of the influence of market outlook upon what 
 and how much acreage is planted, and when it is planted; because of variable 
 seasonal conditions affecting yields, time of performing operations, and available 
 days; and because of harvesting operations on certain crops being speeded up to 
 supply a good market or retarded to avoid a poor one, resulting in marked variations 
 in the need for harvest labor. 
 
» 
 
4 
 
> i