Yellowstone monitor., 1911-08-17

The following information on pre-
,zr;ny exhibits will be of great int
arast to those contemplating exhi-
b;tions at the State Fair and local
+.irs It is furnished by Professor
Alfred Atkinson of the Montana
Agricultural College at Bozeman
and other experienced collectors.
SHEAF EXHIBITS
First-The grain is cut few days
before it would be ready to harvest
with binder. We go into the field
with a sickle, and from the best
portions of the standing grain cut
off the amount we need. cutting the
straw off right at the ground so as
to get full length. If the grain is
cut with the binder and tied, a por
tion of the length is lost IN the stub
be and the straWs are broken by
the band which goes around the
sheaf. We are careful in handling
the samples to see that the straw is
not broken. We then spread it out
thinly OF boards or on the floor some
place where it can be exposed to the
sun. In case of rain, we see that it
is protected 50 that it never gets
wet after it has been cut.
We allow it to bleach until all Of
the green color is gone and the
straw is perfectly dry. The early
cutting prevents loss Of grain N
sheIling. In case the samples which
are not very large are to be procur-
ed. a method which we sometimes
follow is to spread boards along and
put glass over the grain, much as
you would arrange hot bed. This,
Of course, makes for excessive heat
on the grain and bIeaches it out to a
very bright color
Second-After the straw and
grain is all perfectly ripened by "
ing in the sun, we have the leaves
peeled off Of each stalk by itself.
This takes considerable time, but
seems to be necessary in getting
good show samples. With the leaves
pulled off, the straw appears bright
and nice and the whole sheaf looks
we'll.
Thlrd-In tying the samples, we
usually use strips OF soft cloth or
some material which will not cut the
straw, and tie them in three or four
places once right below the head,
once near the lower end and once or
twice between the two ends. A COM
mon mistake which the inexperienc-
ed exhibitors make is to tie their
samples up too tightly before they
are thoroughly dry. This accounts
1or the many nice sheaves which are
ruined by rotting in the center The
thorough drying discussed in the
hrst Paragraph is absolutely essen
tlal. After the slleaves have been
ued up the proper size, which is as.
oatly four to six inches III diameter,
just below the head, we hang them
up by string at the butt end, al
loving the head to hang down. This
Keeps the straw nice and straight,
and by leaving them in that position
Tor q time they will hold their shape
"hen put in place in an exhibit.
THRESHED GRAINS
IN the matter Of preparing
threshed samples, western exhibi.
Tors must exercise some care ane
not work with their samples to,
much. The grains are plump to th,
eaa' and if they are handled to,
much M +, they present the appearance
ol enpped grain. For shows in til,
east and central west. western ex
hlo'tofs ought to be careful to no
nave the ends oe +ha La.nels ~,
5' aadIy banged up. Of course til
a'seflmlnation on account Of this
Mlloily due to the lack of apprecia
''on OF the real quality Of wester
tam by the men who do the jude