The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-08-09
When to Harvest
+. 1912 Grain Crop

A1s04 MT voA0S SAAASSeS~ ~ e
Cutting-Cut When Grain IS IN
Hard Dough Stage
When a large acreage of grain is to
be cut it is we'll to begin little earlier
to avoid overripening. There are seve-
raj bad results from allowing grain to
get too ripe before cutting. In some
instances the grain skaters badly it
overripe. It also shrinks somewhat
from exposure to the sun and wind.
When the straw becomes light and dry
it is much harder to put up in good
shocks, the tops Of the bundles flare out
and it is almost impossible to make a
shock that will stand or turn water.
The stage for cutting oats will vary
slightly from that of wheat. The grain
natures somewhat ahead of the straw
and is ripe, while the straw is COM
paratively green. If there are any
weeds present. the oats should be al
lowed to get practically dead ripe.
Barley is even more difficult to cut and
cure at the proper stage. It may be
allowed to get fairly ripe, if carefully
shocked to avoid discoloration from
rains and dews at once. The barley
which is kept from coloring too badly
is used for mailing purposes and always
brings the highest price on the markets.
The method of shocking and caring
for grain is equally as important as
getting it cut at the proper stage. In
many sections of the American North
west there is scarcity of help about
harvest time. In many cases lack of
help and rush allows the grain crop to
be handled very carelessly. If wheat
has been cut at the proper stage it may
be shocked in round shocks and capped
without any danger of the grain mold
ing or heating. A good plan of shock
is to arrange three pairs of bundles
lengthwise, then place pair on either
side, giving 10 bundles in the shock.
then two bundles are placed on for
caps. The bundles are broken over
about half and half and down to the
band, giving them a good droop, in
which condition they are carefully
tucked down over the heads Of the
shock. If the grain has been cut in
the proper stage these shocks will
settle and give no trouble with the caps
blowing off. The grain will cure out in
perfect condition.
Oats and barley in the main are
handled in the same way. Flax will
have to be handled somewhat different
ly. 1t should be placed in long shocks
made by placing pairs Of bundles one
after another. It is not so important
that fax straw should hold its color and
it threshes out much better if allowed
to weather in this manner. =.
In g great many instances the grain
is threshed from the shock. This does
very we'll where plenty of help and the
threshing machine can be had at the
proper time. Where this cannot be
done it is we'll to stack the grain as
soon as it is dry. Grain is damaged
considerably, especially where fall rains
come before the grain is stacked. There
are two main styles of grain stacks,
the ordinary round stack and the long
rick. There are several things in favor
of the small stack. It is usually not
built SO high and, therefore, saves ex'
tza energy in pitching to the stack. Il
properly built it keeps perfectly well,
This form Of stack is much in vogue
throughout the American northwest
The rick also has its advantages in thai
much more grain can be put into rick
with less exposed surface of bundles
The rick also does, away with moving
the sthreshing machine SO often. The
stack should be protected from waite,
1t the ground. Select q ridge or knoll
for the stack location, then light
loose straw placed on the ground viii
serve as protection from mold. Ths
stack is started with row Of pairet
bundles through the center in the same
manner as long shock ifa rick is t
II be made. Then another layer is PLACED
round more tapping, but keeping tn
heads we'll off the ground. This is KEEP
up until the proper size stack bottom
/ has been made; the center should b
made fairly full by this time. Ther
the bundles are placed, beginning a
The outer edge and working toward thf
center in rows overlapping each tim,
practically to the band. At first tn
bundles are 80 arranged that the flar
ing or longer edge Of the bundle il
turned Up. This gives 9 slight tend
ency to build out. After 2 height Of
ar s feet has been reached the order j
{ { reversed, and there is tendency Z
draw IN gradually until the stack i