The Glenwood post., 1917-07-21
GRAIN IS WORTH SAVING
(By Alfred II. Wolf, Douglas county
Nebraska)

tBy Alfred II. Wol1, DOnSlaS cOuhtS,
Nebraska.)
If ever there was time when grain
was worth saving, that time is now,
during this harvest season. | cannot
help hoping that this war, terrible as
it is, may teach us lessons in more
efficient crop saving that will prove a
lasting benefit to American agricul-
ture. | am trying to be optimistic,
and ! believe that the war is going 20
be blessing in disguise in many such
ways. | am thankful more than ever
now, that my father, born and reared
in the old country, took the time and
trouble to teach every boy in the fam
lily the art of taking care of the grain
from the time it is ready to cut until
the crop is in the bin. There is an art
about this work that too many of us
do not recognize, much less practice.
of these practices next week after
years of disuse. These methods that
were taught us were developed and
used under the pressure of necessity.
The millions of people crowded into
the small areas of those European coun-
tries had to be fed. Waste grain or
any other food product was considered
criminal, just as it is today.
These conditions in the Old World
never have been 20 closely approached
in America as they are today. And
the need to practice strictly economic.
al methods of crop gathering never mas
been 50 great. Our own people may
not reach the stage of actual want, but
thousands of unfortunate European.
will look to America to save them
from starvation, and their stomacbs
are just as sensitive to hunger as OH,
own.
while We favor the stacking of grain
every year, 1 believe that it is much
more necessary this season than usua,
Leaving grain in the shock for from
TWO to five or six weeks as often hap
pens cannot help having a deteriora,
ing effect. You may be expecting the
'hreshers to get around to your place
tomorrow, but you are lust about as
hheiy not to see them until mex,
'i''oh'h. Even If they do show up when
you look for them, | would much ratb
er thresh from the stack. | never have
seen crew of field pitchers at tbresb
ing time who would take the troub,e
10 clean up the loose grain under and
ABOUT the shocks as they should. There
Is SO much of a hurrah and hurry n,
threshIng time that these supposedly
little things receive no attept;ou
are the main reasons why | am
IN 1aVor OF the smaller, individual
threshlng outfits that can handle tbo
gram Tor from three to five or six ad.
joining farms in a single neipbbor.
hood. These outfits are on the, mario,
e useu 10 considerable
N'en' IN eastern states. There is a
iarm tractor in virtually every neigh.
pofnood now, if not three or four, and
they will operate these small thresber,
very satisfactorily.
Our way of stacking is first to plow
a small plot Of ground where we want
the "stack yard.'' This is done to
lessen danger from fire. The site
should be high enough to drain well,
and as level as possible SO as to ha We
the machine sit level when threshinp,
1t also means big saving in time and
LABOR to locate the stacks at some cen.
tral point 20 as. to have the haul rs
short as possible. Then there also is
an advantage in putting the stacks just
outside the feedlot and turning the
straw into the yard at threshine time.
The bundles must be hauled farther
when stacking, but you have the straw
where you want it next winter for
feed, shelter and manure. In starting
stack big shock is made, setting
the bundles up close, solid and straight.
II 10 made not quite ~ large as the
diametef OF the stack wanted, then 4
row Of bundles is laid flatwiss, butts
out, around the outer edge Of this
shock Inside this first circle Of bun.
dies, other circles are laid until Tie