The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-11-28
WHAT SHALL We
DO WITH THE GRAIN
UNDER The snow?
CBy H. l.. Bolley.)

m (By H. l.. BOlley.)
| Just now it seems popular for
everybody to scold or advise the tar.
mer regarding the point whether or
not he should have stacked bis grata
before the fall rains and snow came
on. The wziler is one who believes
that too many people have given 3D.
vice in this matter who do not quite
know what they were talking about.
Very few Of the people who have thus
advised or scolded the farmer on The
subject OF stacking know how dita-
cult IT is to make, . good stack, one
which will not spoil. Very few OF
them seem to understand that the
work Of stacking Is much slower than
the work Of threshing. One good
man can pitch bundles faster than
one capable stacker can stack them.
1t would seem, if this Is true, that
there would be slight argument for
stacking if a threshing machine is
available. The writer also knows
that, this fall. rains followed the
reaping so rapidly that there never
was time when it was safe to stack
the straw. Straw can be threshed
with considerable dampness in it. but
1t cannot be stacked under this con.
dit1on.
What shall we do with tho grain
under the snoW7-The fact remains
that very much grain Is under the
snow, either in loose bundles as in
the case of fax, or in the shock az
in the case of wheat and other Ger
eals. The writer takes it for granted
that every farmer knows that grain
should be as dry as possible when
threshed, or he may expect to haze
trouble with it from heating, mould
ing, discoloration, etc. lust now |
have only two cautions to Offer.
~ Those who did not get enough
Of their grain, whether wheat Or fax,
or other seed threshed while dry to
provide seed for sowing next year.
should keep it we'll in mind that they
are not safe In using any of the seed
which has lain out over winter in the
snow or otherwise. for sowing pur-
poses without making or having made
yer; careful strmination tests TO de.
termine its strength of growth. Bar
ley or flax or corn which has been
frozen while damp is, in almost
all cases. essentially worthless. Wheat
seems to stand such condition some.
what better. but is always damaged
very severely.
1t must be remembered. however,
that good mature grain which was
dry when snow fell on it may pass
thru the winter SO that the condi
ton is not materially injured. I'm
fortunately in most cases the grain
was wet or soft when the snow ane.
q, The second caution is q special
one with reference to flaE. Very
large areas of the North Dakota
grown fax either remain unharvested
or are lying in loose bundles under
the snow. During the previous year
we had a similar experience. Those
who tried to thresh the fax while
the snow was in the bundles had a
great amount of trouble to get out
the ice and snow. MANY of them who
shipped this mixture of ice. snow and
fax to elevators and mills lost very
heavily on the price which was paid
to them. In some cases the grain
was ruined before it reached the
Twin Cities, by mating together In
solid cakes Of moudy, heated ~
rial. Many Of them who LETT
grain unthreshed until It dried
the spring Jared much better. Oftsn
such fax seed was marketed in a.
most as good condition as IL it had
been threshed in the fall before the
snow came. Some farmers harvested
FAX that stayed out all winter, uncut,
and yet saved large amount OF 0eod
of good quality for oil purposes.
It is to be remembered. however.
that no one can be a weather prophet.
If It had rained heavily during March
and April 1t is probable that those
who left their grain till spring would
not have been able to take It on.
The meat Of the matter 10 essential.
~ this: Each farmer must study his
crop carefully and II . time comes
when It can actually DO threshed frse
| from moisture. that IL the time %
take the grain ont II It can possibly
Be- done. II . quite certain that
there d only . Comparatively shoee
time during the spring between ~
ter Ind seeding time when ths piln
will b dry enough 10 thresh.