WHEN TO CUT WHEAT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 25, 12 January 1878, Page 3

WHEN TO CUT WHEAT.

Wheat should never be fully ripe" Before 4 ctitting r for it tßeiu lb^esv colour, weight, aaid quality, and i» liable- to loss from* shedding m thefield 1 . Bat it unfortunately happens, that m this age of inquiry and competitive trials we cannot adopt an improvement without rushing into the opposite extreme of the fault weremedy. It is so m the. case of harvesting, as some oiie or two of-'our-Heigbbouring farmers will find to their cost this season, if they will, but" Jhirljrtest the questioni Wheat can. sever be cut, without undue shrinking of the keEnahuntii.youcaivpress. it the- (kernel); between* y^ia<r thmns 'and forefinger without squeezing out any liquid, or " milk," as the farmers^ call it. If cut before, this, m the- ~. process, of ripening, is converted into a substance like "dougK," a. sure loss of meaaure-^BOTiietnnes: very serious— wit be- the- result?, and! no advantage gainedV as is most 1 mis— : chievousl j held: by. some- theoretical* writers to> whom, amateur- farmersi are too prone- to listen, ovenwheate cut .when the milk is. quite out of. it. . A week after that stage- ife will stilU be m. the: best conditionsfor cutting,, and e^ensshould a. small portion bestanding axlrttle longer no.»h«,rm wilLcome of it, ahd the extr&jbnshels m yieldlwilLfar more thanieompens*aie~: £or the loss of. a little colour aiutweight whiclii tha- pi'ematurely cut. may possess.. Ih-.years- pasfe L have • thoroughly tested the three systems :. . euttiug green —when the milk is jusfc outj aud! wheu "go6se-necked " or— dead ripe,,aaidi I always found the=~ trial daeeidediy againsfefch«^reen cu t—tings.. There is^'wybtnrthewjwerrripe,.^ system* if* high winds prevail bub - : chances are- thai onfie.-in*tliree«-years-. ' ypu may. lose. two bushels per acre-- ; blown, out*, while ■ by cuttiiag. t m>*. early jou.. certaikly* l©se.> eixMjj^yeai-r &om,fou^-to^six bujshels^ per; acre byshrinking:.. ißat. there is nb« neestS. |in>these days, of efilcient machine ryr | fdc-pcolonging,the • wl^eat c#tina; o iiv . \ aay far cd* bey oud? tensdajs^whi eh wilU I admit o£ waitings until it.is ppoperly-, \ fit ' before begjnn-i ivg; v and: fioi&liiimg; libefbre any. o£ the- crop is oy.eivriJjjes> and r m danger o£sheddjingi—J. TUIV.'--in-. ""Hampshire.- Chconicle.-"'