Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
HARVESTING GRAIN.

Modern Methods PRacticed by Progressive
Farmers In indiana.
The first requisite In the successful
management Of the grain harvest Is to
have the latest improved binder and
then TO keep It In good running order.
Next In Importance to a good binder Is
o strong, steady team. An Indiana
farmer who gives preference to span
Of 1900 pound mules for this work ex-
plains his methods as follows in The
American Agriculturist:
In cutting field Of grain it is usual
ly best to go around it all. II you have
TO divide a field, let it be the long way
IL possible; then the turning at the cor
ners will not be increased. This is an
important item, as the turning is the
hardest labor the team has to perform.
Il does not pay to use anything but the
very best of twine.
It is very important that grain be
well shocked. II grain is thrashed from
the shock, as ! always prefer 1t,
shocks that stand up well give fine, dry
marketable grain, but If they are torn
badly it gives the grain musty smell,
as the sheaves are always more or less
wet and rotting. I am never particular
about getting certain number Of
sheaves in a shock. but set mp enough
to give q good, stout shock that will
stand up against any ordinary wind,
and then put on two huddiea
begin cutting wheat when the grain
has Just passed through Its dough state
and the straw has turned to rich gold
en- color. I think early cut wheat is
heavier, makes winter and sweeter
-four than that which is allowed to
stand until fully ripe, and grain does
not shell out SO badly in handling.
Where there is a market for the straw.
the early cutting Is again preferable, as
1t has less dust in it, sells better and
also makes better feed for cattle, if to
be used upon the farm.
The oat crop is more difficult to save
than wheat. When sheaf oats are want
ed, the best plan is to use the old era
die and swathe down to cure, as In the
old days, but think it best to sacrifice
a little in point of quality of grain in
order to save time and labor. So the
oats are allowed to stand until the
straw is dry enough to bind as cut and
not mold. Oats are also thrashed from
the shock, as it never pays to try to
keep them in the sheaf for feeding.
Ny wheat is thrashed from the shock.
Iwant to get through the harvest quick
ly and with the least possible expense,
and it always takes extra labor to put
wheat in the barn or stack it. Besides
prefer to have the straw in the barn
in preference to the wheat. I employ
thrashers that run full force of hands
and board themselves A force of this
kind can rush the work along faster
and cheaper than I can employ and
board them, and thus the thrashing
time is no longer dreaded in we'll reg
ulated households. Some extra team
work is needed to get III the wheat, but
only for day or two, and I can usu
ally swap work of this kind with
neighbor. find that it is easier to re-
set the machine occasionally than it is
to haul the grain any considerable dis
tance.
I market my wheat crop from the
machine. find my buyer before thrash
ing begins. There is a great loss in
wastage and shrinkage when the farmer
stores his grain, either at home or in
the elevator, that don't think is ever
made up in advance Of price, taking
one wear with another.