The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-16
Ghe @arnler.
Time for Cutting Wheat.

The wheat harvest will soon be upon
us, and it behooves every farmer to be on
the alert to have everything ready for the
allimportant duty Of saving the crop in
proper time aud in good order, which he
has been watching with so much anxiety
as the means Of furnishing his purse with
the ready cash to meet the demands which
are always made upon him after wheat
harvest, as this is emphatically considered
the money 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 established
rule which cannot now be well set aside,
that, whenever he brings his crop to mar
ket, he expects to pocket the proceeds Of
the sale before returning home.
If 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 in 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 10 years.
The perfection to which these and other
harvesting machinery is now brought in
sures 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 summer a
large crop of hay and wheat and oats Sc
cured by the boys Of the proprietor, one
of whom, seated upon the mower and
aferward the reaper, aided by two others,
who managed the raking and bind
ing, with two full hands and the stable
and COW boys Of the farm; and in
about month the whole work was COM
pleted. On this same farm, some few
years ago, not less than twenty harvesters
and binders were required, whose wages
ranged from one to two dollars day, and
the time was generally prolonged to twice
that required for the work to be completed
last year. The wages, too, were not the
only heavy item in those days, to say
nothing Of the liquor without which it
was then thought the strength of the la
lorers could not be kept up for the labor
ious duty for which they were engaged,
but the most bountiful supplies of provi-
sions were expected, and cheerfully sup
piled by the proprietor. The saving in
money may be estimated by these details
but the difference in the quietude aud
order Of the hands now to that which former
y prevailed when a promiscuous set was
gathered for the purpose, mostly from the
wharves and market houses Of the city, o.
laborers who very frequently had to be fec
day or two to enable them to gather
strength for the work before entering the
iiald, and many ofwhom, afterlaboring few
days or a week, deserted their post, caus
ing delays in the substitution of new hands
TO 90 through the same operation to tn,
end of the prolonged harvest. All of thii
trouble is now saved by the introduction
of the harvesters, the hay rakes, the ted
der, ETC., and at cost for the machinery
which according to the size of the farm
may be done in single harvest or two.
Let US then urge upon everyone to en-
deavor to secure at once his needed sup
plies for these and other objects of tn
harvest, so that there need be no della,
when the grass or wheat or other grain i
ready for harvesting.
Those who fortunately have the ma
chinery on hand should overhaul all tn
different implements, and critically ties
and determine If they are all in prope
order, and not be compelled, when read
for work, to stop all operations while an
part Of them may have to be sent to tn
smithy or the wheelwright, there to avail
its turn, when dozen or more like them
selves are obliged to be content to ODE
the rule of First come first served"
Family supplies also will necessarily b
required in larger quantities than usua
for the increased size of the family; thes
should be obtained at once as far as pos
sible, to avoid the necessity of sending t
towns or to tho stations to obtain their pur
ehases. "Time is money!" and more thai
the value in money in such emergencies