Wichita eagle., 1888-01-18
1ailY r eagle
THE HARVEST FIELD.
GATHERING THE GRAIN IN THE
GREAT FARMS OF DAKOTA.
Up in. the Morning Early-A Machine
Which Cuts Forty Acres of Wheat
Per Day-The Old Cradle-The Sunset
Hour.

Which Cuts Forty Acres of Wheat
Per Day-The Old Cradle-The Sunset
Hour.
In order that our impressions may be as
vivid as possible, let us imagine ourselves the
hired hands on great wheat farm in Central
Dakota IA thing likely to be pleasanter at this
distance than in the reality; we are on the
farm of Mr.. Cramer, for example-not one Of
these monster farms which are disgrace to
the land, but the 600 acres OF thrifty farmer
near, say, Aberdeen, Oak. We have had
a bad night with the mosquitoes, which have
swarmed around in the close and perfectly
still air. But we are tired, and after we fall
asleep we do not waken until the cali "ro-o-o-
OIL out boys of the host twho is a "rustler1
sounds up the stairway; then, benumbed with
sleep, we tumble out, though still sleeping
and only gradually getting our bearings We
are the new hands" and are badly used up
with our previous days work in the harvest
field. When we get down the host has built
the fire and has led the way to the barn; the
faithful, weary wife and the hired girl are
doing up their hair in the kitchen as we 60
out to the barn
"Brekfu-u-usm
toes, coffee and doughnuts, together with ex-
cellent bread and butter. We eat hurriedlv,
though we get some talk from the host, and
soon we are out in the field and stapd sur
veying the king of the harvest field, "the
header" Respondent in its fire new paint and
putty. 1t is large machine and requires
four horses TO draw it-or more properIv
push it, for they are fastened behind the cut
4 It H. Al
machine like boat with a rudder attached
TO a wheel, which he holds between his legs as
he stands behind the teams The machine cuts
the grain just few inches below the heads
and leaves the larger part of the stalk on the
ground to be burnt after thoroughly dry.
These heads, being cut, are carried up an in
clined plane by means of canvas aprons and
rollers and delivered through spout to the
wagons or, as they are called, "the boxes" OF
the field teams, whose business it is to haul it
to a stack in the center of the field which has
been cut
There" saws the proud owner, "there is
the latest and best harvester in the whole list
Of harvesters, from the hand rake NANNY to
the best champion binder. Ive used 'em oil,
but this is the cheapest and best of 'em all.
It's a rustler and no mistake Cuts twelve
feet wide and covers forty acres a day. 1t
costs less to put the grain in the stack with
this machine than it costs to bind with a
binder"
"All ready there" he calls out as the teams
are in position, and away we go. with the
shouting OF the driver and the cracking Of
the whip, while the driver of one of the teams
puts his wagon with large and very high
box on it, under the spout to catch the de-
scending grain. As We are slender feet" we
will be driver, which is soft snap" while
the loader arranges and tramps down the
the heads they tumble into the wagon.
When our box is full we turn out and another
team with an empty box drives under to
take our place while we go to the stack to I'M
load. The stacker is usually the man on
whom tho most responsibility rests, for he
must put the grain in such shape that the
rains will not destroy it. He is tramping
merrily about as we drive up Hello.
Charley. Nice day, don't itm
"You bet your butes. Say! that stacks
bound to tip over. If | can't put up better
stack than that, then I'm hoss!'
"Shut up your clatter and see il you can't
drive up to toe stack this time in better
shape. If you carry my corner away again
I'll mop the ground with your carcass, you
hear me twitter"
With much chaff of this kind we pitch our
load off the loader does. we look ON just in
time to hurry back and take our places under
The falling stream of wealth. Tie machine
goes back and forth on the field, not
around it.
By noon we have put twenty acres into
the stack safe from the rain and the dews
which bleached and ruined the wheat put up
in the old bad, slovenly fashion. We eat a
dinner of boiled beef very good with vege-
table, delicious new potatoes fresh from the
garden, and finish with berries Of some sort
and pie After the dinner we stretch out on
the grass in the shade Of a building, and
while the rest smoke their pipes we are talk
ing with the boss.
Rather heats the old cradle, don't it, Mr..
Cramer:"
"Well should rise up to CIRCULATE las
hear the boys say sometimes). Do you know
your queries set me q thinking about old
times back in lllinoisi As I rode around to-
day Oil my harvest king, was thinkin' Of
the old river piece which We used to cradle.
Want it hot down there! 1t makes them
cold shivers O. heat run up my back to think
Of it nowl You see it was kind o. penin-
hulsil iihe all lus "oo0s was cH tLTeS SUES Oh
it-oh, it was the ante-rcom to hell in there,
bet your life. Now see how things is done
today. This forenoon we put twenty acres
O. grain i'll the stack. We had only seven
hands and boy to drive the wagon, and ten
horses to move things. By night we'll have
forty acres in the stack, an nobody working
very hard, either. That's the modern Dakota
"All aboard therel" he called out to the
men, moons up The teams are brought
ont and set to work again upon the after
moons work By 8 o'clock we were glad
10 see the white flag from the chamber win
dow, which told us that supper was ready.
We sat hurriedly our supper of biscuit. pota-
toes, berries and tea, while the teams stand
eating little hay, and in half an hour we
are once more in the field, determined to
finish the forty acres which is our stint The
stacker is tired, but he will not admit ii,
and the bows are tired and admit it, with un.
blushing eagerness, with much grumbling.
Just as the sun is sinking into the western
sea of wheat and oats, the boss cries across
the field with the long drawn, melodious
whereat the boys develop surprising amount
Of energy, and by reason thereof cause the
suspicion that they were shanming before
The stacker scans the sky closely 10 see il anv
Signs OF rain are 10 be discovered. and then
we all take our way slowly toward the house,
all IN the most merry spirlts.-New York
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