The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-09
Ghs SarnleI.
Harvesting in California wheatssld.

Harvesting in California Wheat6sld.
Suppose that upon one Of the many
days Of the harvest season you get out Of
bed at an unusually early hour, and again
climb to the house-top, Beneath and in
front Of you viii lie, as before, the pale,
golden sea Of wheat, girdled in the cool
distance with the purple mountains. The
air will be soft and delightful to breathe;
the oaks upon the river bank will throw
shadows acrossrthe roadway, and the rays
Of the sun viii spread over the enormous
plain---a smile Of greeting for the day.
You will sweep the horizon with your
glass. Hardly to be seen, even with that,
are some curiously-shaped dots, moving
slowly hither and thither. They seem to
crawl ike insects, some going north, some
south, some east, and some west. After
while you will distinguish that nearly
every one Of these dots is Of deep red
color. A little later you recognize the
awkward shape of the separators, and the
broad-topped tunnels Of the engines
Throngs Of people, most of them in wag-
ons, yet some afoot, follow on behind.
After awhile all Of these now widely-sep-
arated groups viii come to a standstill
They have taken up their positions for the
onslaught upon the grain fields as deliber-
ately and with as much thought as batter
les take up positions for battle.
When one of'these corps approaches its
station, header, with its attendant wag-
ons, is sent forward to cut clear place in
the center Of the area to be worked upon
that day. The machine is pressed upon
the wheat devouring itas il goes, and then,
having accomplished a proper distance,
turns and works 10 circle, cutting out
bare spot from three to five acres in extent.
This Is the point from which seventy acres
of wheat are to be hewed down, cast into
the thresher, and sacked for market be-
fore shutdown.
Then the separator and engine and all
the teams move forward up the lane, and
into the circle. The first comes to halt
in the center, the second takes up its po-
sition in the rear, and the headers at once
attack the wheat; the first taking the first
swath of the encircling grain, the next the
second, little in the rear, and SO on.
The betting between the engine and sepa-
rator is adjusted, and the engineer starts
his fires. The shoots that are to convey
the grain from the canvass on the ground
upon which it is pitched from the header
wagons are attached, and the bag filters
bring up their sacks. All the lids that
cover the inner works Of the great ma
chine are drawn over and all is made fast.
The wheels are locked as are those of the
engineer. Great care is taken to keep
all things on as perfect level us may be,
to insure the proper economy of force.
The scene even at this time is one Of
great animation. The men are all fresh,
and are working with ardor; the stimulus
of the noise, the movement, and the bright
sun, is great. 1t is impossible not to feel
the pulse quicken, even at this early stage
Of the play, and one recalls his old-time
ideal Of n harvest field, with its beribbon-
ed reapers, and their long, curved sickles,
with little doubt Of its superior grace.
They try the engine. It is all right.
The separator clatters in tune, and moth
ing is alniss. Now, then, for the grain
In a moment the wagons begin to unload
nugc iofkiu.s are p'tened upon the ground,
from when u y norne INTO the recesses OF
me separator. Then there ensues a strange
ccmD'na1lon q tremendous NOISES sound
u humping, ana 2 SOUND o. roaring The
s s. s 'sollc snlsels nom 'op . bottom,
ana IRON out every creyice there pours q
'nin sneeI Of Gust Inc upper part belches
ou' 'ne ras.e, hundleas q pounds ana
sons q cnaH' ana stnlng cloud follows
y, ~, = seeon -. esery.nins = On springs.
I. I ne men "no s M 7, 'ne pass nana them at
Z cues p 'ne efoagns. Inc brown
nooa comes Poar'ng GOWN stream Of
e'eA l s sslns's z "''eas--aha Ine gay !
s "van as rs ea,a ,ha n sne arges.
q n. ~ o ~ ' ne ~ s11'e iu, ou1 slA
1880 81. :, oyv Poa'u T Z. s'all, ~ icr mar
~ eae' 1oz4 -n,s '1aes r,ne one day
IT, IT,. - ~ ~ :, IN. M NJ o,ss' p1snelS.
~ onnsl ~, oa''s = w monl,or Az tne
i pls';~ ~ ia = ~ ~ 'sa'a1ol,
,ra~Id h ,,a5 saa.,s MY = ~ -, >s ~o ,. ono
&c. &c. e. ;assasss T = ~ ~ = .nese
~ ~ - .a,1saass - ..aa s = ~ 1880.
~ me ssia Al . : PSs- :
s;s S VI o~asr fa,.s r, ~ y aasa .i I.e.
r;sss T. aae's I;ns dime M sn.;n has IN
ssas.,;o y tha s.,aa M - as. III, s1s "
~;sasss;ra ss &c. .e - ~ ..; aee's 9P0a
ha~i;ar ia s,I', = ,has,sss s'4 .;,,s. =
5000 $500 s'S' w -e ''''s' n
II = .v..t = 49, ~ Il. L.. 80, ~.
e;xcIss - d.ss,nrt;on hs~;an Az daI. M, ~
ss;r e<nsn.s , n bow;es sold ssa 49, ~
sb;o News dov. r. created ssi w'rss 49,, ~ Il -
hear ~ s,oaoth ,,oe1d;ng el;eE slaeE e
ths;r ol;stco;og siekIss. Evan Az ', n,ov Z
,nents ~ tbe unoa;uIs red wsrons mi
VAN nnan chem fave N ma I'M; lf order
tIat has 4 strange power 10 pleass.' y =