Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-06-21

Harvesting A
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Oats usually are cut with grain
binder, though in the drier sections the
header or the combined harvester and
thrasher is used occasionally. When
the straw is very short, due to drought,
or when the crop is badly lodged, cut
ting with q mower may be necessary.
The grain may then be raked and put
into cocks, which should be built so as
TO shed rain. The proper time to cut
oats is when they are in the hard
dough stage. Cut before this time the
grain is not well filed, it shrivels in
curing, and is light in weight. If al
lowed to become fully ripe before cut
ting, considerable part of the crop
skaters out and is lost in harvesting.
The danger of damage from storms
also is increased. When a large acre.
age is to be harvested it is advisable
to begin cutting soon after the grain
passes out of the milk stage, as other
wise a considerable part of the crop is
likely to become too ripe before it can
be cut.
Shocking.
If the grain is ripe or in the hard
| dough stage when cut, it may be placed
at once in round shocks, which should
be capped to prevent damage from rain
and dew. The best quality of grain
can be obtained under these conditions.
If the grain is green or if the bundles
contain many weeds, they should be al
lowed to cure for few hours before
shocking, and then should be placed in
| long shocks, which may or may not be
/ capped. Long shocks allow the sun
! and air to penetrate much more readily
! than round ones and are to be prefer
J red when the grain is cut green or
7 when conditions for curing are not
/ favorable. If long shocks are capped
properly, they protect the grain from
/ weathering quite as well as round
/ shocks. Grain that is wet from dew or
rain should be allowed to dry before
it is shocked. In sections where strong
winds prevail during the harvest seas
on Gaping is not advisable as the
caps blow off and the cap sheaves
may be injured by contact with the
ground.
A good round shock may be built
! by first setting up two bundles with
the fiat sides facing, the heads togeth-
/ er, and the butts a few inches apart.
These bundles should be jammed down
hard into the stubble, SO that they will
/ stand firmly. Then set another bun
die at each end of this pair, so that
there will be four in row. Next set
one in the middle of each side. This
leaves at each of the four corners a
space in which a bundle should be
placed. There are now ten bundles in
the shock, which is about the right
number. If the grain is very dry
few more bundles may be set around
When the desired number of bundles
Is set up, the shock should be capped
One or two bundles may be used in
Gaping, depending on the length OF
the straw and the dryness of the grain
One cap allows circulation of all
through the shock, while two caps af
ford greater protection from rain. The
cap bundle is broken by supporting i
with the butts on one knee and witt
one forearm and hand under it at th'
band, while the straw at each side il
broken over just above the band will
the other hand. The straw of abou
half a bundle is broken to the righ
/ ~
are reversed and the remainder of tn,
bundle is broken to the left with th
left hand.
Long shocks may be built by settin
up two bundles with the fiat sides
ing, the tops together, and the b
several inches apart to allow circu.
ton of air between them. The mex
pair of bundles should be set up along
side the first in the same way, with tn
tops leaning slightly toward the frs
pair The shock is completed by SCI
ting another pair at each end and the
placing single bundles with the fla
sides in the opening between each en-
pair. If desired, more than ten bur
dies may be placed in long shocks. l
Gaping long shocks the first bundl
should be put on with the butts poin
ing in the direction from which tn
prevailing winds come and coverin
the heads of the bundles in that en-
, of the shock as completely as possible
:, The second cap should then be laid O
the other end of the shock in the sam
manner, with the heads overlappin
those of the first Two bundles wi
cover an ordinary long shock with col
siderable overlap, but if the shock
l very large more than two caps may h
needed.
Stacking.
Whether oats should be stacked
: allowed to remain in the shock unit
, they are thrashed depends very largel
: on local conditions. If they can
thrashed from the shock after they al
cured but before they are injured /
: weather, the best course to pursue d
q pends on the relative cost of shock an
. stack thrashing. Investigations sho
9 that stacking adds about one to OF
: and one-half cents bushel to the co
q OF producing oats. AS thrashing outf
q are often not available when they a
p wanted and as consequently the gra
n is likely to be injured by weatherin
j. stacking is generally advisable, parti
q ularly in the humid section.
e When grain is stacked, it is impo
g tant that the stacks be well built.
s. the stacks are put up so carelessly tn
; theV will NOT shed water thp gra