Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 192, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1914 — SAVING THE STRAW STACKS [ARTICLE]

SAVING THE STRAW STACKS

IwMcH Will ♦ft Jkf . St t fW • a a > a O«t Themjnto ‘ (By W. F. PURDUE) Unless steps are taken at harvest time to save the straw stacks, much of the rtraw win go to waste in one way or-another. This is practically true where the stacks are poorly constructed, as they usually are with our modern wire stackers if there are no hands en the stack at tho time of the threshihg. The only way a well shaped, waterproof stack can be secured is to have one or two good hands on the stack aa the grain is being threshed. Then, after the machine leaves, the stack can be completed in a short time, as the straw win save, wlth jbut little loss. If it is not possible to have the hands on the stack while the straw is being piled up it can be worked over afterward. This should be done before rain has fallen to settle the straw, however, and a fairly good job made of it. The newly made stack should then be fenced so that the stock cannot run to it before the straw is well settled. A bunch of cattle will destroy a new stack in a very short time if permitted to have free access to it Other animals are not so bad in this respect, still, they can do considerable damage. Before any stock are turned to the straw the scatterings should be gathered from the sides of the stack. If they are allowed to remain about the stack they will form steps on which the stock can climb to the top of the stack, thus doing much damage. Loose straw about the stack should also be kept cleaned up at all times. Stock will trample this under foot and so spoil it for feeding and bedding purposes.