Judith Gap journal., 1910-08-19
SHAW TELLS TIME
FOR HARVESTING

Prof. Thomas Shaw: During the
harvesting season, now drawing to a
close III Montana, very much grain
has been lost through cutting too
long deferred. The loss resulting
arises from shelling of the grain from
the breaking Of the heads and from Il
lessOned value in the straw from
Over-ripeness. The loss from each of
these sources is liable to be greater
in Montana than in many other states.
because of the plumpness of the grain
and because of the less humid mid
day atmosphere The more plump
the grain is. the bett II the sample the
more liable is it to shell.
The agencies that produce shelling
are the winds and various processes
of harvesting. Unless grain is cut at
All early state Of ripening the winds
that blow OH the prairies sway the
heads back and forth to such an ex-
tent that more or less of the grain
falls out on the ground. In some in
stances much more than would suffice
to seed the ground is lost. 1t is not
only lost, but it may seriously injure
the next crop by growing up in it, and
sapping away from it the moisture
needed to perfect its growth. When
grain is Over-ripe there is always
much shelling when the grain is be-
ing cut with the binder or header.
Then there is further loss from shell
ling III the handling Of the sheaves.
The loss from the breaking of heads
is greatest in the barley crop, and
this fact emphasizes the Importance
Of cutting this crop at an early stage
Of ripeness.
The small grains are ready for be-
ing cut when the straw has turned
yellow below the head and for sever
al inches downward. At this stage the
stalks will also have turned yellow
for several inches up from the ground.
The body of the straw will still have
something Of a green tint, and the
heads may not all have turned yellow.
Grain cut at the stage indicated will
not shell, and the straw will be DOS
sessed Of its highest feeding value.
When grain Is cut at the stage indi-
Gated, shrinkage OF the kernel need
not be feared.
The loss thus incurred III harvest
ing the grain is very large in the ag-
gregate. In a field Of winter wheat
in the Prickly Pear valley, not many
miles from Helena, noticed much
more seed lying on the ground than
had been sown to produce the crop.
This was before Il binder had been
put into the field. Before that field
could be harvested, at least twice
that amount would be lost under the
most careful conditions of harvest
ing. In other instances have heard
the loss estimated at ; to4 bushels
per acre.
1t may not be possible to prevent
all this loss, but much of it may be
prevented by not allowing the grain
to get so ripe as is customary before
| A"tVVotluS OCSlIS. w ucI1 lllp area 10
be cut is large it would be better to
cut some Of the grain slightly under
ripe than to allow the bulk of it to
get Over-rlpe before it can be cut.
The straw furnished by grain cut at
early maturity has considerable feed
ing value, and the coming winter
every pound of straw grown will be
wanted for feeding.
The pea crop is ready for being
harvested when the larger portion of
the pods have turned yellow. Some
Of them may still be green, however,
on top or toward the top Of the vines.
These are the last formed and they
are usually of little account, hence it
is not wise to wait until all of these
are fully ripe before harvesting the
crop. When peas are cut ut an early
stage of maturity. and the straw Is
not exposed to rain while being cured
it's feeding value is not very mucl
less than that of ordinary hay