Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-01
~ 'As& ~ - Prom INC iowa Homestead.
STACKING WHEAT.

Asthc harvest Of 1862 is rapidly approach
ing, perhaps it would not be improper for us
to ssaysa few words to our readefs about
stacking wheaty Thcrekare 4 great many
farmers who do not know how to perform
that part Of their business, having. been
raised where barns were used to secure the
crop. But there arc many more who per-
form it very carelessly, either from ag6ncral
habit 81 carelessness, or from thc hctthat
they undervalue that crop. This is wrong,
entirely wrong. When farmer determines
upon raising particular crop, he should al
so, determine to cultivate It as It should be,
and to take care Of it when it is matured. 1t
siss true, thatwhcst is not a very difBcnlt crop
Eto raise, but, il requires very caTefulmaIi-
agementt to secure and Keep it. There are
thousands and tens of thousands Of bushels
Of wheat spelled INCUR State, every year, for
the want Of proper attention after it is cut
II wheat is properly cured and stacked, it
viii keep III as good order, if moi bettcr,D
under ordinary circumstances, as if packed
in barn. No man should undertake to stack
grain unless he understands it. He had far
better pay Ave dollars a day to a man who
does understand it, than run the risk of lose
ing his crops by bad stacking, which he is
sure to do, IL he undertakes to do it without
the necessary experience. The labor Of the
whole season, or a great portion OF il, should
not be sacrificed to that penurious spirit
which dictates some men within our acquain-
lance Nor should the carclessness in which
many farmers indulge, in other branches Of
their labors, be permitted to manifest itself
in this. Too much is depending upon the
preservation Of the wheat crop in our State,
the present season particularly, to permit one
bushel of it to be wasted through ignorance
or carelessness Heretofore, we have proba-
bly, wasted sufficient to pay the necessary
revenue Of our State. This year the cxpen-
ses of the army will greatly increase the ex-
penses Of the taxes and the care and dill
gcnce Of the farmers, In the preservation OF
their grain when raised, should scertain'y
make difference of the army tax. 1t is
impossible for us, on paper to point out the
proper mode of stacking wheat, but were we
on the ground when stacking were to be done,
| we have the vanity to believe that We could
do it. The great secret in the business is, to
Keep the tcater outscf the stack.; Keep the
middle of the stack higher than the outside,
and keep it cell mingled with the sheaves as
you pack them in, and cover the top well
with some material that will turn the water
Off asg F~a nss a~ @,r1.5 'H<
| 1t is true much wheat is spoiled after
threshing. Tit is properly kept in the stack,
this need not be SO; but if allowed TO be
drenchcd with rain before threshing, it is
very apt to become musty afterward. But
We have known thousands Of bushels Of tie
best quality Of wheat, and thrcshed in the
best manner, to be allowed to rot in rail pens
and other equally unfit places for keeping it,
Just because. as the owners claim, the price
would not remunerate them for raising it
while not twelve months afterwards. the
same quality Of grain was selling in theslnar.
ket for dollar or twelve shillngs per bushel
Farmers should not be discouraged because
grain does not command high price ut har.
vest There is gcncrallya time during the
year when it will command fair price. just
hustle around, and get one year ahead in Fl.
nanclal matter, and then keep your granun.
til it brings q fair price. 80, -.