The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-07-08
SUGGESTIONS FOR
THE CARE OF CROP
PRACTICAL ADVICE ON CUT
TING, SHOCKING, STACKING
AND THRASHING GRAIN :.
100000 ACRES AFFECTED
u. S. AGRICULTURAL DEPART
MENT DESIRES TO AID THE
NORTHWEST FARMER

Washington, d. C.-The harvesting
and thrashing of the spring wheat
crop on some II million acres, by far
the greatest proportion of which is
produced in the Dakotas and Mime
sofa, is accomplished under varying
conditions and will soon be in full
swing. The greater part of the crop
in the northern Great Plains area is
cut with binder. The condition of
the bundles and their convenient
handling depend largely on the adj
justment of the machine.
The new U. S. Department of Agri-
culture Farmers Bulletin No. 678,
"Growing Hard Spring Wheat" al
though intended primarily for the
farmer who has not had much exper-
fence in the growing of spring wheat
on the Great Plains, will doubtless
prove useful to others, as it tells in
direct language of many of the best
methods of farm practice, Concern
ing the cutting of the wheat crop it
states that wheat which has been al
lowed to mature before cutting makes
the best flour. Where the acreage is
small, cutting should be delayed until
the kernels are we'll hardened. Where
the acreage is large, the cutting may
begin before the grains are entirely
hardened, but after the straw has lost
nearly all of it's green color. If the
crop becomes overripe, loss in guam
tity from Smelling may result. Durumt
wheat usually looks ripper than it re-
ally is. Even when fully ripe, it can
be left standing longer than common
wheat, as it does not shatter. The
header is used to some extent in
western Nebraska, and quite common
ly in the James river valley in South
Dakota. 1t is of most value, however,
where little or no rainfall occurs dur
ing the harvest season.
Building the Shock.
Wheat cut with binder should be
shocked in the field Immediately. The
shocks should be placed in rows, so
that they can be hauled with the
greatest convenience. The quality of
the thrashed grain depends on the
care used in shocking, to great ex-
tent.
The shock should be started by TAX
ing a bundle in each hand, with a
single swing, jamming the butts firm
ly into the stubble, side by side, a
few inches apart, the heads leaning
against each other to prevent falling.
The next two are placed against the
edges of the first pair. From 6 to 8
or 10 bundles can then be placed firm
ly about these until round shock of
the proper size is formed.
In the eastern, more humid and less
windy districts it is well to cap the
shocks to protect them from rains and
birds. Make the cap by breaking
down the straw at the band both the
heads and butts of two good bundles.
These should be placed firmly on top
of the standing bundles.
Good Stacking Counts for Much.
Only about one-fourth of the wheat
in this hard spring-wheat section is
stacked under present conditions.
Thrashing directly from the shock is
more commonly practiced, as the total
cost usually is somewhat less.
Stacking gives greater protection,
however, results in better quality of
wheat, and allows more economical
thrashing. Early fall blowing is made
possible by the removal of the shocks
from the fields. This is usually very
desirable and often will pay for the
extra expense of stacking.
Well-stacked grain can be allowed
to remain for weeks or months before
thrashing, without damage. Stacking
should be done as soon as the grain
is well cured in the shock, usually af-
ter 10 to 20 days. Four stacks are
commonly built, in pairs feet apart
to form a setting. The stacks are
round and usually 10 feet in diameter
at the base.
First, build large, round shock or
stock, about 8 feet in diameter; then
place two layers of bundles, one di-
rectly on top of the other, with heads
resting against the shock, and the
butts forming the ten-foot circular
base. The next row is laid with the
butts extending just past the bands OF
the outer row, like shingles, and so
on, overlapping the rows little more
as the center is approached; then be-
gin again at the outside.
Shocked bundles have slanting
butt. Lay the successive outer layers
with the long edge of the butt on top
and projecting beyond the layer be-
meath. Increase the diameter in this