The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-05
HARVESTING SPRING WHEAT

The harvesting and threshing of the
spring wheat crop grown on some II
million acres, by far the greatest pro-
portion OF which is produced in the
Dakotas and Minnesota, is accomplish
ed under varying conditions and will
soon be in full swing, says a Wash
ington dispatch. The greater part Of
the crop in the northern Great Plains
area is cut with a binder, The condi-
ton of the bundles and their conven
lent handling depend largely on the
adjustment of this machine.
The new L. 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. Concerning
the cutting of the wheat crop it states
that wheat which has been allowed to
mature before cutting makes the best
flour. Where the acreage is small, cut
ting should be delayed until the kerr
nels are well hardened. Where the
acreage is large, the cutting may be-
gin before the grains are entirely
hardened, but after the straw has lost
nearly all of it's green color. If the
crop becomes overripe, a loss in guam
tity from Smelling may result. Durum
wheat usually looks ripper than it real
ly 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 west
ern Nebraska, and quite commonly in
the James River Valley in South Da-
kota. 1t is of most value, however,
where little or no rainfall occurs dur
ing the harvest season.
Wheat cut with a binder should be
shocked in the field Immediately. The
shocks should be placed in rows, so
that they can be hauled later with the
greatest convenience. The quality of
the threshed grain depends greatly
on the care used in shocking.
The shock should be started by TAX
ing a bundle in each hand and, with a
single swing, jamming the bltts 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
more bundles can then be placed firm
ly about these until a round shock
o. the proper size Is formed.
In the eastern, more humid and less
windy districts it is we'll to cap the
shocks to protect them from rain and
birds. Make the cap by breaking down
the straw at the band toward both the
heads and the butts Of two good bum
dies. These should be placed firmly
on top of the standing bundles.
Only about one-fourth of the wheat
in this hard spring wheat section is
stacked under present conditions.
T%hreshing directly from the shock is
more commonly practiced. as the total
cost usually is somewhat less.
Stacking gives greater protection,
however. results in a better quality of
wheat, and allows more economical
threshing. 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
~threshing. without damage. Stacking
should be done as soon as the grain is
well cured in the shock. usually after
10 to 20 days. -Four stacks are com
monty built, in pairs 6 feet apart, to
form a setting. The stacks are round
and usually 10 feet in diameter at the
base.
First. build q large, round shock or
stock. about 8 feet in diameter: then
place two layers of bundles. one d.
|rectly on. top Of the other. with heads