424 THE WHEAT CTJLTURIST. 



use of his wheat straw as will be necessary, in order to 

 maintain the fertility of the land, he must cut his fod 

 der and make rich manure by feeding cattle, or sheep. 

 In order, therefore, to be able to cut straw or any kind 

 of fodder economically, one must have a first-rate 

 machine. I know of no kind better adapted to the 

 wants of common farmers than the National Cutter. 



MANAGEMENT OF WHEAT GLEANINGS. 



The grain that is gleaned with horse rakes in wheat 

 stubbles, after the crop has been harvested, should never 

 be mingled with the other grain, as the gleaned grain is 

 seldom fit for seed, and never suitable to be ground into 

 flour for human food. When the scattered heads of 

 grain are gathered with the horse rakes, the teeth of the 

 rakes will always tear up sods, grit, and small stones, 

 much of which will be collected with the gleanings. 

 Then, when this unthrashed grain is put through the 

 thrashing-machine, small hard stones are liable, in many 

 instances, to injure the machine more than the value of 

 several^bushels of gleaned grain. Gleaned wheat is 

 only fit for cattle feed, because the heads have usually 

 lain in the rain, dews, and sunshine, until the kernels 

 have been swelled and shrunken and dusted over with 

 grit which is dashed over the straw during showers of 

 rain. This alternate wetting and drying of the grain 

 injures the germ of every kernel. Therefore, if the 

 grain be mingled with clean grain for seed, a loss must 

 be sustained equal to the value of such grain. Such 

 kernels will make meal for domestic animals ; but if 

 employed for seed, they will not vegetate. When such 

 grain is ground into flour, after having been mingled 



