Middletown transcript., 1877-06-23
Aaritnltnral.
rlm. for cnttlnr Rheat.


The wheat harvest will soon be upor
US, and it behooves every farmer to b
on tie alert to have everything ready
for the all-important duty Of saving th'
crop in proper time and in good order
which be has been watching with Sc
much anxiety as the means Of furnish
ing his purse with the ready cash tC
meet the demands which are always
made upon him after wheat harvest, as
this is emphaticalIy considered the mo.
ney crop Of most Of the farmers Of the
country. One advantage at least the
cultivator of the soil has over most
other classes is that custom has estab.
lished rule which cannot now be well
set aside, that, whenever be brings his
crop to market, he expects to pocket
the proceeds Of the sale before return
ing home.
If "a moving or reaping machine has
not been obtained, no time should be
lost in procuring one or both of these
implements, as they will save their cost
10 a couple if not single harvest; and /,
If properly cared for and put away
when the work is done each year, will
last from IL to Is years The perfec-
ton to which these and other harvest
ing machinery is now brought iusures
success and economy in their use, and
if the farmer has to receive low price
for his wheat (which we think will not
be the case this year) his expenses are
decreased in much greater proportion.
We witnessed last year on the farm Of
a friend with whom We spent the sum-
msr large crop Of hay and wheat and
oats secured BY the boys of the propris-
tor, one Of whom, seated upon the
mower and aherward the reaper, aided
by two sthers, who managed the raking
and binding, with two full hands and
the stable and COW boys Of the farm ;
and in about a month the whole work
was completed. On this same farm,
some few years ago, not less than
twenty harvesters and binders we're re-
quired, whose wages ranged from one to
two dollars a day, and the time was
generally prolonged to twice that re-
quired for the work to be completed
last year The wages, too. we're not
the only heavy item in those days, to
say nothing Of the liquor without which
it was then thought the strength Of the
laborers could not be kept up for the
labOriOus duty for which they we're en-
gagged, but the most bountiful supplies
Of provisions we're expected, and cheer
fully supplied by the proprietor. The
saving in money may be estimated BY
these details, but the difference in the
quietude and order Of the hands now to
that which formerly prevailed when
PrOmiscuOus sot was gathered for the
purpose, mostly from the wharves and
market houses of the city, Of lab0rsrs
who very frequently had to be fed a
day or two to enable them to gather
strength for the work before entering
the field, and many of whom, after
labOring few days or a week, deserted
their post, causing delays in the sub
stitution Of new hands, to 90 through
the same operation to the end Of the
prolonged harvest. All Of this trouble
is now saved BY the introduction of the
hArvesters, the bay rakes. the tedder,
ETC., and at cost for the machinery,
which according to the size of the farm,
may be done in a single harvest or two
Let Us then urge upon everyone to
endeavor to secure at once his needed
supplies for these and other objects Of
the harvest, 50 that there need be no
delay when the grass or wheat or other
grain is ready for harvesting.
Those who fortunately have the ma
chinery on hand should overhaul all
the different implements, and critically
test and determine if they are all in
proper order, and not be compelled.
when ready for work, to stop all opera
tlOns while any part of them may have
to Dc ssnt to the smithy or the wheel
wright. there to await its turn, when
dozen or more ike themselves are
obliged to be content to obey the rule
Of " first come fret served"
Family supplies also will necessarily
be required in larger quantities than
usual for the increased size Of the fam-
ily; these should be obtained at once
as far as possible, to avoid the neces-
sity Of sending to towns or to stations
TO obtain their purchases. Time is
money" and more than the value in
money 10 such emergencies
Few persons have an idea Of the mag
nitude Of the dairy interest Of the cOun-
iFy. The number of milch COWS is re-