The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-08-29
ia.
SAVING THE CROP OF 1912
BY PROFESSOR THOMAS SHAW
FARMERS STACK YOUR GRAIN

| FARMERS STACK YOUR GRAIN
The crop of small grains in the
Northwestern states the present year
is unusually good. In fact, it is in a
sense phenomenal. 1t is exceedingly
important to all concerned that this
crop shall be saved. IT possible, not
one bushel of it should be lost. The
hazard is very considerable that the
farmers may not be fully able to take
care of this great crop. 1t is fitting,
therefore, that everything in reason
should be done to save this bountiful
crop.
THE LOSS OF 1911.
Much of the grain grown in the
DaKotas and Montana in 1911 was
lost. This loss resulted from the in
ability of the farmers to get the grain
threshed in time. The outcome was
that snow fell on the shocks in the
fields and on the flax lying IN the
sheaf, with the result that all of this
grain was badly damaged and much
of it was a total loss. This loss
might have been entirely prevented
had the farmers stacked their grain.
The harvest of 1911 was late, espec-
tally in regard to the flax crop and as
a result much Of the late flax was
buried under the snow while lying in
the sheaf. This loss might have been
avoided by stacking of flax as soon
as it was dry. The flax crop of 1912
will also be late, and in order to
save the crop ought to be stacked as
soon as it is dry.
THE ADVANTAGE OF STACKING
If it was not possible to get the
comparatively light crop Of 1911
threshed on time, it is a foregone com
cluson that the bumper crop of 1912
will fare worse in that respect. 1t
will be simply an impossibil to
thresh all the grain grown in 1912
when it should be threshed, if the
thresllng is done in season. If, how
ever. the grain crop is proper] y
stacked, the farmer may thresh it at,
his leisure, even during the winter
season, His crop is practically safe
as soon as it is stacked, let the wea-
ther he what it will be. The farm :
er may not only thresh his grain at
his own personal convenience, but
when labor is more plentiful and
cheaper than if he threshed his grain
at the usual season.
OBJECTIONS TO STACKING GRAIN
The objections that are usua lily
urged to stacking grain are, that it
involves more labor than threshing
from the shock. That is true but
when the thresher can not come un-
til much of the grain is lost, as it
stands IN the shock from shelling
a. d other causes, the loss far more
than offsets the advantage from
threshing the grain from the shock.
1t is morally certain that the present
season, the thresher can not over
take the work when it ought to be
done. If, therefore, loss is to be
prevented. much of the grain will
have to be stacked.
ADVANTAGES FROM STACKING
The advantages from stacking
much or all the grain includes the
following: % 1t insures the crop
from loss by birds, by undue she'll
ing, by hail and snow, also by rain,
should the weather prove showery.
(2) 1t enables the farmer to thresh at
his leisure and at a time when labor
is less costly than in the rush of the
harvest season. (3) 1t enables the
farmer to disc his land as soon as the
shocks have been removed and to
plow it later, thus putting it in good
condition for growing of crops the
next year. In this way the moisture
now in the ground may be so con-