Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-22

h1A ~ ~ Al Il ~ n lA\N. l always
prefer stack thrashing for the follow
ing reasons: | begin to stack as soon
after cutting as possible in order that
the grain and straw will cure sufficient
ly SO that it will not heat and mold in
stack. do not like to leave grain in
shock exposed to the weather, as rain
and sunshine soon bleach out the col
or and consequently ruin the quality
OF the grain. also think that grain
that has gone through the sweat in
stack does not get SO dusty in the bin.
| have seen shock thrashed grain get
50 hot III the bin that it was no good
for seed. When one thras!eS ont of
the shock he has to wait his turn for
the machine, and sometimes grain is
thrashed when it is too wet, in order
to rush the Job through as everybody
is anxious to get the grain in. have
seen fields Of shock grain standing in
shock until the grain was SO bleached
out that it was no good for seed, feed
or market. Some say there il too
much extra work in stacking. My ex-
perience, us well as observation has
been that one is well repaid for the
extra jrk. Everyone cannot thrash
first, someone's grain has to take the
weather until the thrashers can get
there. have turned shocks and re-
built them and have seen others do
the same, which would have more
than stacked the grain. besides the
waste. Another reason for stacking
and later tlrashing is that grain prop
erly stacked keeps the straw bright
and good, while early thrashed straw
piles, no matter how well stacked will
rot more or less when exposed to all
of the summer and fall rains and hard
winds that we have at that time Of
the year. furthermore, one does not
need as much help, which is quite an
item these days, and the fewer hands
at time, the easier it is on the good
housewife also. Last, but not least,
when have my grain in stack l say
let her rain, for il | can't thrash this
week maybe can the next. Anyway
| don't worry about just when they
will get here. do not consider
stacking so that stacks will keep, such
an awful job. have stacked grain
for twenty-five years and IN all that
time can truthfully say that have
not lost as much as five loads Of bun
dies all told. Sometimes hard wind
will give little trouble, but with
good heavy hangers on good length
Of wire so that the weights will come
well down ON the sides of the stack
there is little danger.
CHARLES kOONTZ: At the risk
Of appearing to take both sides IN
this discussion will give my views
OH the subject, "Shock or Stack
Thrashing, Which?" can discuss the
matter from the standpoint of both
thrasher and farmer, having had Il
good deal of experience in both lines.
| have machine of my own and have
also stacked my own grain owing to
the machines having left the neigh
borhood. AS an operator of Il machine
will say that there are very few good
stackers, and wet stacked gram is the
hardest of all to thrash because it
will not dry out that season and con-
sequently a great amount of grain will
90 over in the straw. While there is
some chance to dry out shock grain,
one can do nothing with stacks that
have taken water. Ii there is rs mnc!;
as a days thrashins l think it best
to thrash out of the shock if it is pos
siDle to get a machine reasonably
soon. but it not it is certainly best to
to take care of the grain. Oftentimes
man with a small half-day's job will
wait six weeks for machine, there
by letting his grain bleach in the field
and losing the use of the field as II
pasture. Besides there is very likely
to be some rainfall which would make
the ground IDEAL for plowing, and it
is Il recognized fact that where GA:
stubble is to be plowed for Il fall
crop, the sooner it is done the better,
thereby allowing the ground to pack
DOWN snd by occasional harrowi::2.:
xiii tne wccG:, and -c..:..in the mois-
ture for the fall sowing. Ii the field
has been seeded to grass the shocks
are almost sure to kill the young
grass, and if the grain is heavy this
will be very considerable portion of
the entire area of the field.
This whole subject is IL matter OF
dollars and cents according to the