Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-07-26
HARVESTING AND THREsHING GRAIN.

HARVESTING AND THREsHING GRAIN.
Nine Irvine bound bundles are enough
to put in shock. Set up four, then
break joints with four more and cap with
one bundle. A shock thus set up will
dry out evenly and will not mold. 1t
will stand as well as a large shock, and
have but small quantity of grain ex-
posed to bleach. Cut no grain when 1t
is wet with dew. Wheat, rye and barley
should be ripe when cut. Oats may be
cut little green, but if afterward left in
the rain, they had better be ripper. All
grain should be threshed as soon as pos
sible after it is dry. The flint varieties
of wheat may be threshed while damper
than the soft varieties. Barley and oats
will not hold in bulk as readily as wheat,
but no grain should be threshed wet.
Every farmer wants his threshing done
as early as possible; he wants quick job
and his grain saved. If he would ac-
complish this he must be ready when the
machine is. The requirements are, the
best of fuel, plenty of hands, plenty of
sacks, plenty of tools, and arrangement
steadily and without interruption, with
40 rushing but with will. When meals
are ready the men must go at once, for it
is important to keep on the right side of
the cook. Arrange so that as many may
eat together as possible, and let those eat
first who are wanted first. Two persons
at least should stay with the machine
one of the owners and some one inter
ested in the job Of threshing. It is al
ways safest.
The handling of grain is the next con-
sideration. It is best to put only one
bushel in a sack. It is more easily handled;
can be loaded and unloaded more rap
idly; is less liable to be wasted; is much
easier on the sacks and saves tying and
untying.
Straw may be stacked with view of
forming a shelter for stock. Sheds are
formed by placing posts twelve feet high
at proper intervals for strength. On these
place strong ridge pole. The shed
should be the full length of the stack;
preferably in the center, though it may
be put on either side or end. Let good
solid poles or timbers extend from the
ridge pole to the ground, four feet apart
and leaning at an angle of forty-fve de-
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on lath half way down, leaving the bot
tom open. Then build the stack upon the
frame thus made. Such shed is self
supporting and stock cannot waste the
straw. If there is more straw than can
be stacked On the shed frame, do not al
low it to be thrown to one side and re-
main in loose pile. Leave no loose straw
around the stack. Clean all up and haul
to the barn for bedding.
To owners of machines T would say:
Keep the machines in good order, over
hauling every day. Oil is cheaper than
machinery. Castor oil and beeswax are
the best materials to put on belts. Keep
the cylinder on the exact divide and it
will thresh clean out of the head, and
avoid cutting. Allow the cylinder little
end play. Always set at right angles
with the direction of the wind. This
gives a clean side to measure on, keeps
straw and chaff out of the threshed grain
and helps the straw hands. Keep the
boilers clean. Never run a machine when
it is empty. Never belt bind the ma
chinery. Run it level as nearly as pos
sible. Keep the belts from the dew and
wet, and always use the best grades of lu-
bricating oil.-American Agrieulturist.