THE PROPER TIME TO CUT GRAIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 506, 1 March 1879, Page 4

THE PROPER TIME TO CUT GRAIN.

About a quarter 'of a cerjtnry ago a very animated discussion was carried on among agriculturalists on the question whether, wheat should-be allowed to become fully ripe before being cut or should be cut down while still green. Bytbistime the minds of farmers should be fully made up on tbe question, but it would appear that the point has never been settled; No doubt excellent crops have, been gathered in by the holders of very contradictory opinions on the subject, and failures have resulted in tbe practice of the holders, of both theories. Tbe latest information on the subject comes from Mr Edward Mortlock, who recounts the experience of an English farmer, (Mr Fy'sori^ who always cuts his crops when green." ""He has held liis for fifty years,' ?ind. l hfe sayCtHat his.lbng experiencelhas taught him that corn should be cut, much earlier than is customary with moist 'farmers. In July of the last year he got in 1 his crop 185 acres which averages, five quarters or ten tjacks^perjacre^ j!His riile'is to cut the wheat, as s,oon • as ; it looks dead at the bottom, though it is green in the stcaw above. He believes that the wheat when cut still feeds on the sap left in the straw, and he thus obtains a bold grain of bright color, which realises a marked price higher than his neighbors can get. No doubt a great deal depends , on the care bestowjed on the harvesting! 'j and it, does not follow that those who adopt Mr Pylon's system w,ould realise bis successk The theory that tbe wheat feeds on/the gceen-straw is plausible enough; but so it would, if left standing. The testimony of Mr Pyson as to the .success which attends^ acting upon'his rule is valuable, even if it be insufficient to induce its general adoption". The intelligent farmer will bear it in mind, and avail himself of the alternative of.' acting Aipbn if? in. case! other circumstances should conduce to make jtdesirable to, cut earlier, than he would otherwise have considered safe. The rule that the straw should be dead at the bottom appears to be a good one, ior no more sap will'then be drawn from the earth. It is safe, it would seem, tdcut wheat" at any time between * the ripenirigof >the bottom straw and the -complete! -ripening ;,of /the n^ar. This knowledge should be of value when labor is scarce and, crops on a great breadth ; of latid ripen* about the same timei : ; J * '"•' ' ' ' '' ' ' * ' ' '

A bare-footed darkey, while hoeing,.cottoir one day, . Baw.his-.bigtoe -under *a clqd,< ;and thinking it a mole's head, hit it and hurt mtnself. After working with it awhile he got tired, set his/foot ' on a sf ump' aid jsaid >:'' "well, jes pain away now : I doesn't care, you hurts yeself wusin ye do me." :. „i ■