HARVESTING 



59 



Shocks standing in the field for a considerable time 

 are likely to suffer from wind and rain. Sheaves 

 which have been blown down and are left lying on 

 the ground, if rained upon do not dry out promptly. 

 The wheat kernels are then likely to sprout and 

 become damaged. Prolonged wet weather may 



FIG. 36. Stacking wheat in the farmyard. Pitching bundles to the top 

 of a nearly finished stack is hard work. 



even cause the wheat to sprout in the shock, which 

 injures it both in weight and quality. Prompt 

 stacking thus protects against exposure and re- 

 sulting losses. Many farmers even claim that 

 stacked grain improves in quality. 



Soon after being stacked the wheat goes into 



