Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-09
This Rule Will Be Enforced on
ALI Institutions Under the
Board of Control
John cownie Says Shock Thrashins is
Highly WastefuI-Grain Should be
Put In Stack and Allowed to Sweat
at Least Three Weeks--Stacks
Should be Made by Hands
Special to Times Republican

Special to Times Republican
Des Moines, Aug. 9.-Millions of
dollars were lost by the farmers OF Iowa
in 1902 and 1908, by delay in stacking
their small grain in the opinion of Hon.
John Cownie of the state board of con-
troll.
Now while private individuals have
Il perfect right to waste their own prop
erty If they SO desire says Mr.. Cownie
in circular letter to the superintend-
ents and farmers Of the state institu-
tons under control of the board I'VE
state shall be cared for in a proper
manner"
Therefore Mr.. Cownie says: IAN
grains and timothy for seed, on our
state farms must be stacked as soon as
possible after harvesting and as soon as
in condition for stacking. Under no cir
cumstances will we allow our grain to
remain in the shock in the field, watt
ing for the threshing machine
Both grain and straw will be much
better in quality by passing thru the
sweating process In the stack, and
threshing should not take place for at
least three weeks after stacking. You
will see that the stacks are built in i
proper manner to shed rain.
I'm the first place the ground where
the stacks are to be built must be dry
and clean, absolutely free from manure.
trash or weeds, to insure the safety of
the bottom stack. If on side hill
a furrow or small ditch must be made
on the upper side TO turn the surface
water away from the stacks in case of
heavy rains. as the bottom Of the stacks
must be protected as well as the body
and top"
How to Stack Grain.
Begin the stack as IL building a
round shock. placing the sheaves in
circle, the butts on the ground, the
sheaves set Closely together in an up
right position. Round stacks are pref
cradle and they should be as near as
possible twenty steps in circumference
or twenty feet in diameter. The outer
rows of sha,ves will of course slope
somewnat to allow footing for the firsr
row OF shsaves above foundation. The
butts of sheaveS are usually somewhat
angular and to insure a smooth surface
on the stack they should be placed on
edge; that is, with the long end of
the butt toward the builder, which will
thus cveri;tp the short end of the pre-
ceding sneaf. insuring an even outside
TO the stack. Each successive row of
sheaves after the outside row should be
laid with the butts to the band of the
pre- ;ed!ng row and all should be placed
closely together end packed as much as
possible. The stack from beginning to
ilnish should resemble an inverted
saucer. nut higher in the center, the
great object telng to have the head of
every steaf laid as high as it will stand
without slipping.
Lay Head &c Insure Slope.
In building the head of the stack the
long end OF the sheaves should be laid
downward and the short side above.
This will give an even slope and assist
in shedding rain. From first
to last the stack must be kept high in
the center us the greatest weight is in
the center OF the stack, and we often
find when thrashing that instead of the
stack resembling an inverted saucer It
is actually a saucer right side up. at
fording every facility for rain to be
carried to the center of the stack in
stead of being shed on the outside as
from a shirlgle roof.
I'm finishing the stack fold couple !
Of good straight sheaves as in Gaping |
a round shock, then lay them crosswise |
on each other on top OF stack and se- |
cure by small stakes about eight feet |
IN length inserted thru the sheayes and |
into center Of stack.
Coarse Hay For Top.
az covering of slough grass or coarse |
hay three or four large forkfuls) on /
top of each stack gives good protec-
ton to the grain, and this should be |
secured in place by heavy hangers at
tached to plain wire, not less than six
teen feet long. two pairs of hangers to I
each stack, placed crosswise on top.
"while 81 good stack may be built I
With a pitehfork, the writer much pre-
,ers building on his knees. as every !
sheaf can be laid accurately by hand
md pressed firmly in place when the 7
entire weight Of the body is put on eV-
cry sheaf.
THE pitcher should be taught to toss
he sheaves in such a manner as TO
iron them alongside of and at the right
,and Of the stacker. butts forward, that I
hey NAV be readily grasped and quick
y mt in rlace and If this is done the
.tacker should be able to handle the
,haayes as fast as any man can pitch,
,,wavs taking one sheaf at time