Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-02
ABOUT HARVEST WORK.
10 should Be Done Rapidly and Thor
Oughly and in Good Season.

oughly and in Good Season.
1t is very important after growing
the crops 10 harvest them in good sea-
son. With all of the hay and small
grain crops, at least, a very few DAYS
delay viii make a considerable differ
ence in the quality of the product. II
is, therefore, necessary, II the best
profits are realized, TO arrange ahead so
that vi en- 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 cut while the weather is show
cry and before il is as hot and dry as
when timothy, redtop and millet are
cut; hence it must be left out one or
two days at least before ii viii do to
NOW away. Clover should be cut when
large proportion of the heads have
turned brown. If allowed to get too
ripe. not only is there a loss of nutri-
ment, but a 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 cut
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-
pecially If cutter can be used.
Oats should be put up in small
shocks so as to cure out well, and will
generally need to stand several days
before they can be hauled in If they
are TO be fed in the straw oats should
be moved away in the barn They are
more difficult to stack than wheat, and
If they are to be fed out, putting in the
stables or barn will often save one
handling. With the western farmer at
least the principal profit in growing
oats is to use them for feed, and hence
1t Is best to cut and cure and stow it
away in a manner that will secure the
best quality of feed at the lowest cost.
When cut at the right stage there is a
large per cent. of nutriment in the
straw, but if allowed to get too ripe
before harvesting good portion of this
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 on
the farm. They should be cut Just
after the plants are In full bloom and
before the seeds form. In nearly all
cases, If the weather is clear and
bright, timothy or red-top can be cut
IN the morning and gathered up and
stored away in the evening, and if cut
at the right stage will make the best
of hay. The use of machinery has
lessened the cost of handling the hay
crop very materially, and with it and
careful planning the work can be done
in good season. st. Louis Republic,