Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1917 — Prepare For the Threshing Gang. [ARTICLE]

Prepare For the Threshing Gang.

Just a short time until threshing starts again, ft does not seem possible that one year Ijas gone by and threshing time is at hand again. It seems but yesterday that the old machine puffed and groaned as it pulled out of our yard for the next job on that “run.” What a fearful dread threshing is to we women evgry year—but more so to some, because they will not plan for that occasion beforehand. Most all the oats fields look fine that we have seen and if we do not get any hail to destroy it, then there will be a big threshing this year for all of we farmers. So it behooves us to prepare. As we all know how many acres we have out, we can consequently figure just how many meals will be required of us to serve during that time. This year, when we must all practice economy in the strictest sort of way, it takes a great deal of planning and studying to learn the value of foodstuffs and make it go as far as we can without wasting, and to get the best results. They will all tell you that if you sow bid fields of oats you must expect to feed the threshers several big dinners. I have seen the threshing prolonged in a wet season by some of the people, because they would not call the men into work until after dinner, every day, in order not to give the dinner to all of them. With big fields of oats out that look so promising just now, and which will probably produce from fifty to sixty bushels to the acre, it is unavoidable, and certainly looks stingy to act in such a manner. I would suggest that if you do not want the threshers at your home for such a long time, that you do not sow so much oats the next time, or better still, none at all. But if on the other hand you are required to have them for almost a week, try and make the best of the situation. Be resigned to your fate. You know that we country women cannot wait until the last moment and then call up the grocer, baker, milkman and butcher to bring our dinner practically a}l ready for the table. No, we must plan and plan hard, take note of what supplies we have on hands, and order all our groceries the week before. My advice to farmer wives would be to take & piece of paper and jot down their menus for every meal during the threshing season, and hang or paste the list where you can have it before you all the time. It will be much appreciated by your women helpers, for instead of asking you every little thing they may instead refer to the list you have prepared. I never attmepted to get a big dinner for threshers or company without planning it and preparing a list of what lam going to serve. If you will follow my suggestions, I am sure you will want to do it again. There must absolutely be three women to do the work and they must be workers and not shirkers. Too many women in the kitchen is a drawback, as I have learned from experience. Some women like to go and help others during the threshing season becuase they say they can visit at the same time. How absurd to think of such a thing! It is probably the nearest neighbor, that never dreams of coming to visit you when you are not so busily engaged as when theshing. But they come then because they know they can satisfy their greedy appetites with those good things they know you will have. In practically all cases suppers are not given to the men on the threshing runs, except of course to the four machine men. And what a blessing and relief it is to all of we women that they do not, for it gives us more time to prepare for the dinner the next day. The idea is to get up early, have the meals ready as quickly as possible, in order that the men may move on to the next run. Give the men good and comfortable beds and feed them sensible and nourishing meals. Remember, they are working hard to put away your grain and are only human like yourself. Do not give reason to complain about your actions, because it will only be natural for them to tell others about them. Have your table set as attractively as possible, with a nice white table cloth and a bunch of sweet peas in the center of it, if they are obtainable. They look and smell so sweet. Try and make things look pretty, near and appetizing; It is not hard to do. Have the pickles prepared, bread baked and the churning' done and out of the way a few days before. If you will bake your cakes and ice them good, then cover them with a crock, you can keep them indefinitely. I beg of you not to give the theshers boiled beef. That is one thing they all object to and abhor. Put it in the oven instead. It will not only give you more room on top of the stove for the rest of the dinner, but it will be so much more palatable. Never attempt to fry meat for a big dinner, such as a threshers’ dinner, where you have to feed between thirty and forty men, because it will wear you but. • Contributed.