The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-15

harvesting y
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 a 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 we'll filled, 1t 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 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 1t can
be cut. -ae.>,.r..:..
Shocking. ~.
II 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.
II the grain Is green or If the bundles
contain many weeds, they should be al
lowed to cure for q few hours before
shocking, and then should be placed in
long shocks, which may or may not be
capped. Long shocks allow the sun
a and air to penetrate much more readily
y than round ones and are to be prefer
ired when the grain is cut green or
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
1t is shocked. In sections where strong
winds prevail during the harvest seas
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 few inches apart.
These bundles should be damned 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
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,
a few more bundles may be set around
the shock where they seem to fit best.
When the desired number of bundles
Is set up, the shock should be capped.
One or two bundles may be used In
camping, depending on the length Of
the straw and the dryness of the grain.
One cap allows circulation OF air
through the shock, while two caps af-
ford greater protection from rain. The
can bundle is broken by supporting 1t
with the butts on one knee and with
ono forearm and hand under 1t at the
hand while the straw at each side Is
broken over Just above the band with
the other hand. The straw of about
half n bundle Is broken to the right
with the right hand; then the hands
oro reversed and the remainder of the
bundle is broken to the left with the
left hand.
LONG shocks may be built by setting
nm two bundles with the fiat sides rae
ing. the tops together, and the QUITS
several inches apart to allow clrcuia
tion Of air between them. The nex'
no;r of bundles should be set up along
s,da the first in the same way, with the
tons leaning slightly toward the ms
mir The shock is completed by set
ting another pair at each end ana tnei
nIacinr single bundles with the nal
sides in the opening between each eh'
nair. If desired, more than ten pun
dies may be placed in long SHOCKS. II
canning long shocks the first puns'e
should be put on with the butts point
ino in the direction from whicn the
prevailing winds come ana c"Verlht
the heads of the bundles in that ens
,of the shock as completely as posslple
The second cap should then be ialu OF
the other end of the shock ID the same
manner, with the heads overiappins
those of the first. Two bundles VII
cover an ordinary long shock with con
siderable overlap, but If the shock i
very large more than two caps may o'
needed.
Stacking.
Whether oats should be stacked o
allowed TO remain In the shock uNl
they are thrashed depends very larger!
on local conditions. If they can o.
thrashed from the shock after they ar
cured but before they are injured o: