The Grange advance., 1874-07-29

pleasant to sleep among, remain,
Yours respectfully,
E. E. DICKERSON.
The Crops and Other Items.
The Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal
publishes crop reports from all parts of
the State. For three months past in
Southern and Western Kentucky not
enough rain has fallen at any one time
to lay the dust. The crops are almost
entirely destroyed, and even with an
abundance of rain henceforth they can
not be saved. OF tobacco there will be
scarcely any crop. Corn and Oats very
small, but wheat is the best crop for
many years. Much destitution is al
ready reported, and the Governor has
been petitioned to convene the Legis-
lature for the purpose of devising some
means of reliet: Rains have fallen in
Eastern and Central Kentucky during
the last two days, but too late to afford
much relief: In the mountain district
actual cases Of starvation are reported.
The California wheat crop of the
present year is true golden shower.
It is estimated at fully 40, 900, 900 bush
els. This is about one.sixth Of the
whole production of the United States
last year. This vast quantity of grain,
too, is the product of little more than
one.tenth Of the area of the whole
State. What will be the value of the
wheat harvest when the whole of the
available lands shall be brought under
cultivation, can hardly be estimated.
"The Golden Gate" will truly be the
portal Of the worlds granary, as it has
been and now is in great measure the
outlet of stream Of gold. It is esti-
mated that 600 ships of l 800 tons each
would be required to transport the crop
to market. The freight to Europe
would amount to $40, 100000 in gold,
and each ship would earn over $50, 1000
as it's. share of the freight. Here is
comfort, certainly, both to the Califor-
mans and the hungry Europeans.
WHEN TO Cur GRA1N.-The period
Of ripening of grain is that at which
the grain contains the largest portion of
nutriment 1t is not that at which the
grain is hardest or Of the brightest COL
or, or parts most readily from the cap
sule or envelope in which it is contain
ed. Indeed, a considerable part of the
ripening process should take place in
the shock or the stack. IF it is allow
ed to ripen, or, in other words, dry and
harden completely while standing, the
grain loses much Of its nutritive prop
critics. As in clover, hay, or grass, a
large portion Of the sugar, starch, and
gum is changed into woody 6bers by
sanding after . certain period; so grain
Is deteriosated by over.ripening. The
husk becomes developed at the expense
Of the kernel, and the yield of -four
from over-ripe wheat is less than from
that cut in the proper season. Myown:
practice has been to watch the field
closely, especially around the outside OF
aloog tie fences, because it is there
that the grain ripens first. As soon as
Ind that the grain shells readily and
has taken = fine white straw.color, and
when crushed between the edges of the
nails Of the thumb and forefnger pro-
daces . powdery, st.rchy substance,
which is in no way pasty Or doughty, /
turn in the reaper at once. IF the
grain is left until it is too hard to be
easily crushed in this way, it is too
ripe and it's quality is inferior. From
my experience in milling, as well as
farming, I am satisfied that it is best
for the miller as we'll as the farmer that
wheat, rye, oats or barley should be cut
at the preciss point here described.
When the season is drier than usual I
would hslten the period somewhat. -
Pennsylvansa Farmer. RI i, ~
The new arrangements for grading
grain in New York are now complete.
They want only the confirmation Of the