ORCHAED GRASS. 51 



HARVESTING THE SEED CROP. 



The methods used in harvesting orchard grass seed are practicallj 

 the same throughout the whole countr}'. In general, harvest begins 

 about June 15 and lasts about ten daj^s, though when there is a large 

 acreage it is often necessary to begin earlier than this, in order to finish 

 before the seed becomes too ripe. An inferior quality results from 

 cutting the seed before it is sufficiently mature, and this seed is quite 

 readily detected b}' its light-green color. AYhen properly matured 

 the seed is straw colored, and not at all green. A common test to 

 determine whether the seed is at the proper stage for cutting is to 

 beat the heads in the palm of the hand, and if quite a quantity shat- 

 ters off* it is considered ready to cut. To one unfamiliar with the crop 

 it Avould seem that the waste from shattering vrould be great. 



Orchard grass is harvested with an ordinary grain binder (PI. VII, 

 fig. 1), making as small bundles as possible, in order that they may 

 cure readily. The bundles are placed usually three in a shock and 

 the shocks tied at the top with two bands of straw, one about 8 inches 

 below the other (PI. VII, fig. 2). They are bound in this way so as to 

 make them more stable and to prevent the seed from shattering. The 

 shocks are made small to facilitate handling at the time of thrashing, 

 and so that they may be easily tied at the top with the straw bands. 

 They are left standing from two to four weeks, or until they have had 

 time to cure thoroughly, and are thrashed without stacking. On an 

 average it takes about 5 pounds of twine for 100 bushels of seed. The 

 crop is of such importance that the fence corners and other places that 

 can not be reached ^vith the binder are cut with the cradle and bound 

 into bundles by hand. 



When the grass is sufficiently tall it is cut from 12 to Itt inches high, 

 to avoid the low-growing weeds, such as plantain and sorrel, and also 

 clover and bluegrass. Another advantage in high cutting is that it 

 leaves more of the undergrowth to be utilized later for hay or pasture. 



THRASHIXG. 



The common grain separator is used for thrashing with the ordi- 

 nary cylinder and concaves, but with special riddles and with nearty 

 all the wind shut oft' to prevent too much of the seed from being blown 

 over. In hauling the shocks to the machine, racks with tio-ht beds or 

 with tarpaulins spread over the bottom are used to catch the seed that 

 shatters off', which is usually considerable. This is always heavy seed, 

 and is worth saving. Since the shocks are small, a whole one may be 

 thrown on the rack at one forkful without breaking the bands. This 

 reduces shattering to a minimum. Unless the grass is very weedy 

 the thrashing machine cleans the seed sufficiently for the market, but 

 most of the larger growers have hand fanning mills, which are used 

 when necessary. Seeds like those of redtop are easily blown out, but 



100- v». 



