The Globe-republican., 1891-06-03
ABOUT HARVEST WORK.
IL Should Be Done Rapidly and Thor.
oughly 80 In Good season.

It Should Be Done Rapidly and Thor
oughly 80 In Good Season.
1t is very important after growing
the crops to harvest them in good sea-
son. With all u the hay and small
grain crops, at least, . very few days
delay will maase a considerable differ
ence in the quality of the product 1t
is, therefore. necessary, if the best
profits are realized, to arrange ahead so
that when the crops are ready the work
can be pushed along as rapidly as pos
sible. Clover is usually the first crop
to harvest. and of the plants used for
hay clover requires more time to cure
than almost any other. The first is
usually cue while the weather is show
cry and before it is as hot and dry as
when timothy, redtOp and ulillet are
cut; hence it must be left out one or
two days at least before it will do to
NOV away. Clover should be cut when
large proportion of the heads have
turned brown. If allowed to get too
ripe. not only is there loss OF nutri-
ment. but considerably greater loss
in handling, the leaves and foliage
breaking off in handling. So far as is
possible. clover should be cut and stored
away without getting wet. and sup
ply of hay caps can often be used to
good advantage with this crop.
Wheat is generally the next crop to
harvest after clover. The best stage
for cutting is just after the seed begins
to harden. If allowed to get too ripe
the grain will bleach and will shatter
out more than if cut earlier. Wheat
can be bound and shocked as fast as
cut, and needs but little curing until
ready for the stack. Care should be
taken in shocking and stacking TO keep
as dry as possible and get into the
| stack in good condition
Sometimes the timothy meadow will
be ready to cut before the oats. while
| at other seasons the oats should be Gu,
| first
II to be fed in the straw, oats will
make better feed if they are cut be-
| fore they are fully ripe. The straw
contains more nutriment and this is the
most economical way of feeding. es
| d u.
Oats should be put up in small
shocks so Us to cure out we'll. and will
generally need to stand several day:
before they can be hauled in. If they
are to be fed in the straw oats should
be moved away in the barn. They art
more difficult to stack than wheat, anC
II they are to be fed out, putting in the
I - 10,
handling. With the western farmer a
least the principal profit in growing
oats is to use them for feed. and hence
1t is best to cut and cure and stow il
away in manner that will secure tn,
best quality of feed at the lowest cost
When cut at the right stage there is &
large per cent. of nutriment in the
straw, but if allowed to get too ripe
before harvesting good portion OF thi:
is lost.
Timothy and red-top make good hay
if cut in good season. In fact, timothy
is considered the very best for hay. es
pecially FOR horses, of any grown or
the farm. They should be cut JUS
after the plants are in full bloom anC
before the seeds form. In nearly al
cases, if the weather is clear anC
bright. timothy or red-top can be cu
in the morning and gathered up ant
stored away in the evening. and if cut
at the right stage will make the bes'
of hay. The use of machinery ha:
lessened the cost of handling the hay
crop very materially. and with it anC
careful planning the work can be done
in good season.-St. Louis Republic