Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1891 — What Chaff Is For. [ARTICLE]

What Chaff Is For.

The chaff which surrounds all kinds of grain has very important economic uses. In its wild state this chaff saves the seed from exposure to weather, sometimes in severe seasons only one or two grains escaping damage by winter’s exposure. When first cultivated most kinds of grain had doubtless much more abundant chaff than now. The original wild Indian corn, in which each grain has a husk of its own, is an illustration of this. But chaff even now serves a very important purpose. It allows the grain to dry out in stacks, and mows without heating, so as to injure the seed. Grain threshed before this drying out is accomplished heats much more injuriously in the granary. Sometimes in threshing oats that have been drawn in wet we have seen the straw blackened by heating around the bands, while the heads kept separate by the chaff showed each grain bright and uninjured. Wheat that has a strong bearded chaff is usually a strong grower, as its germinating power is less apt to be destroyed by heating in the mow. This-fact secures the continued popularity. of these sorts, despite the unpleasantness of working among bearded grain. Reaping machines that bind grain,with twine as soon as cut make the chaff even more necessary. It is not any more difficult to work, amongj and it does help,to keep grain from being injured; through imperfect drying before mowing away.