The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-07-21
The Approaching Harvest.

In few days the wheat fields will be
ready for the harvester Are our har.
vesters ready for them This is an In.
portant question, which every farmer
should at this time be prepared to an.
swcr in the affirmative but We fear they
arc not.
Many suppose they arc prepared, by
resting upon the promise Of some pro-
prietor Of a Reaper.
These promises arc not always fulfill.
ed; shey are pregnant with discproint-
mcnt, and in fact ever will be so from
the nature Of things.
These machines arc frcqucntly::gctting
out Of order, at times when they are
least expected to, causing much unfor.
seen delay. Besides the proprictors are
unable to predict with any ccrtainty,the
favorable or unfavorablc state Of the
weather, which of course as it occurs,
more or less disarranscs their program
mc, and the consequence is a bitter
disappointment to those who have been
assured Of It's services at proper
time.
| Our farmers when about engaging
the help of one Of these rcapcrs, should
not rely upon the promise Of its propric-
tor, that he would cut his grain at
particular time, but should enquire how
many acres Of grain the reaper is already
engaged for, and then by taking into
consideration the number Of acres il
can cut in day, and allowing enc third
il not one half of the time for inter-
ruptions by the unfavorablc state Of
the weather, and accidents, be can cal
culate for himself whether it would be
advisable for him to wait for it, or pro.
coed to cut his grain at the proper time
BY the aid Of other help.
1t is now fully ascertaincd and set.
tied by our best agriculturists, that the
best time for cutting is when the berry
contains still little milk in its centre
Abundant experiments have proven that
at this stage Of its growth, it will yield
a greater number Of bushels, and more
pounds Of -four to the bushcl, and make
whittier and lighter bread.
This is the time then that it should
be harvested and no ayoidable disap
pointments should be allowed to inter
fcre.
A farmer can much better afford to
hire couple or more men to 50 into
his wheat field at this stage Of its growth
than to wait ten days or two weeks, as
some have done, to their great loss, in
orderto have their grain cut for dollar
or two less, by the reaper.
Another important thing to be OBJ
served by our farmers it to procure
sufficient help at the time Of stack
ing.
When stack is commenced it should
be completed before any rain falls upon
it. All probably are ready to concedc
the truth Of this, yet all are not ready
to proceed with the business as if they
were convinced Of the importance Of
it.
Every man at the time of stacking
had better hire little help and have it
done up quickly, than to run any ri k
Of having his whole stack injured.
Another fault or failing Of our far
mers is letting the grain stand in the
shock too long before stacking. The
consequence Of which, frequently ia
that by storms, showers, and warm sun.
shine the grain becomes grown, and
musty, which renders it almost unfit for
| use.
We are not disposed to find fault with
our farmers for the purpose Of finding
fault, and VIC arc fully aware that they
labor under many disadvantages. Yet
we believe decided improvement much
to their benefit can be made in the man.
ner and style Of harvesting !; and to ac-
complish which it is necessary for each
one to study closely bis own business,
and resolve to adopt that course which
may be within his reach, regardless Of
leisure or lazy DAYS, which shall in the