Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-23

given to housing and stacking it. As
fertilizers are valued the farmer who
wastes his straw crop loses Of nitro
gen, phosphoric acid, and potash
cash value of about s. 80 for every ton
of straw wasted, TO say nothing of the
greater value Of the crude fiber, which,
worked into the soil, Increases it's pow
er to retain moisture and fertility.
We have been impressed with the
sloyenly and wastefu manner that
straw is handled where grain Is
thrashed in the fields. In the majority
of cases there is no effort made 20
stack the straw. but the blower scat
ters as suits the thrasher and the
wind, Occasionally we see one man.
seldom more, on the pile. With the
swinging blower it is claimed no man
is needed on the straw pile. 1t is rare
no" to find a straw carrier, since the
farmers desire 10 save the expense Of
three men on the straw pile. and the
owners of the thrashing machine
claim the blower will pile the straw
blower can pile il better than the
average run of men viii. We can
find one who claims to be able to
make a decent-looking strawstack
that will shed water. hut we cannot
find the two or three helpers who will
try to keep the center OF the stack
we'll packed and full. Each of these
Will take a place and pass the straw
along to the stacker, who works on
the outer course and keeps It fairly
solid. The stack when finished has
three solid places where the helpers
stood and the rest of the stack settles
into troughs 10 carry and hold water,
and each rain settles these places,
making the destruction of the stack
| sure and rapid.
Unless the farmer does his own
stacking and can get helpers that win
do their part we conclude the blower
will make as good a stack as the aver
age thrashing help will make. The
blower is the coming stacker. not be-
cause the farmer is saved the wages
of three or four useless men. We
still believe, however, that there is a
wanton waste of straw as well as of
grain in the rushing recklessness that
is common with the thrashing- ma
chine gang. We can. however. secure
great comfort for stock at little cost If
we will take the time before thrashing
IN in fau o.. 4
stringers and place on these poles or
! old rails, on which even the blower
can pile straw so as TO make good
shelter for stock. With the straw
| piled on the west and north of such n
| frame we have a shelter into which
! the sunshine comes and the cold
/ winds are kept out. Although we
nave a comfortable bank barn, well
| lighted and ventilated, yet the stock
/ seem TO enjoy more the straw shelter
! in the barn lot, The straw crop piled
there is worth tenfold more than when
! piled in the middle of field, causing
! loss every time the field is cultivated
and disfguring the farm The ma
nure made around the straw shelter
! in the barn lot is worth more than
that made from the remains of the
straw pile in the field.
AS long as farmers will continue to
! pile their straw in wads in the fields
! it is as well for such to bale It early
or sell ii to the balers and get a little
/ ready cash, and relieve the farm and
! the neighborhood of the unsightly in
cumbrance. Baled or sold it COM
monty nets the farmer about 81 ton
Breeders Gazette.