The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-07-16
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HARVESTING SMALL GRAIN.


Reduction Of Labor with Improved Ma
chinery-Cutting Wheat-self Binders.
improved harvesting machinery has
reduced the labor Of caring for small
grain after it is ripe SO considerably
that the acreage Is determined more by
the prospective price than the cost of
production. The pony binders, the new
u foot binders, the header etc. are no
longer confined To the great wheat To-
calIties, hut are used daily by thousands
If farmers In certain localities old
methods necessarily remain III vogue
because the rough land does not admit
of using improved machines, but the
farmer on the prairies of the central
west who does not judiciously select the
most improved implements Is destined
10 fall cut of the race. The low price of
wheat has discouraged many farmers,
but American Agriculturist gives the
assurance that this grain will still re-
main the money crop of "a large number
for many years. Oats are almost equal
" unprofitab but they are such an
admirable food for all kinds of live
stock that a large acreage will always
be- seeded. Rye stands the cold so well
and Is so valuable for winter and early
spring pasture that the acreage will be
increased The authority quoted says:
The best time for cutting wheat is
after the berry has passed the dough
stage but before it has become so hard
ened that 1t cannot be indented with
the finger nail. This will be governed
somewhat by circumstances. If the
straw is wanted for hay, the cutting
should be done while the crop is yet
green Make the bundles rather small,
and do not put too many together in
shock II the weather is murky or
rainy, great care should be exercised in
cutting grain at all green or molding
viii take place. In this case 1t Is best
to let it get thoroughly ripe, even at
the risk of having poor straw and some
loss from shattering.
In most localities grass seed il sown
on winter grains III the spring, or upon
oats. In tbs case it pays to cut the grain
as early rs possible. OF recent years
grass seed seems 10 catch better when
sown on oats ground and we'll covered
just why this Is 50 cannot be easily cX
planned. unless it be that the deep coy
cring of soil enables the plants to get
good start, with large root development,
thus making resistance of drought posi-
BILE Dat straw is much priced as feed,
which is another reason this should be
cut early, especially during a dry sea
son. when it can be properly cured. The
value Of barley largely depends upon its
color, so every care must be taken to get
it into the barn without its being ex-
posed to dews or rain. If cut with "a
mower and allowed to cure before shock
ing, the highest quality of grain is Sc
cured. This method, however, is SO la
bOrious and the boards so disagrcoable
to handle loose that the crop is now
largely cut with the self binder and
treated much as wheat. Where shocked
in bundles, the grain Is apt to be off
color.
Self binders have been improved until
it appears that little more can be done
to make them do more efficient work.
Small two horse machines are CON
structCd for the use of farmers with
rough land. or where the area seeded to
small grains is limited These are pro
vidcd with roller and ball bearings and
run very easily. They do good work in
any kind of grain. On the other hand,
there are number of ~ foot binders
ON the market which can also be used as
headers. These do well even in the hcav-
lest grain, binding the great mass of
grain with ease. 1t is pushed before the
team, four horses being sufficient to
propel it. With little alteration the
grain can be headed and run into IA
wagon instead of binding apparatus.
The three horse machines, however,
continue to be the favoritcs and cut the
greater part of the grain. These have
been greatly simplified until the parts
of the machine are few compared with
those Of 10 years ago The work is done
perfectly. They will work ON ground
too soft for an ordinary reaper. The
construction is so simple that any one
of average brightness can operate them.