48 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



inches apart, or broadcast. Drilling is preferred, as it 

 deposits the seed at any even depth, it is all covered and 

 less is required. From one inch to one and a half inches is 

 proper depth, depending on the moisture and texture of 

 the soil. 



The farther north winter wheat is sown the earlier it 

 must be sown. Spring wheat should be sown early. Wheat 

 germinates and develops a good root system at cool tempera- 

 tures. The early plant has many more chances of escaping 

 disease, insects, and other damage. 



Harvesting. — Wheat should be harvested promptly when 

 it is ripe, on the one hand to secure the largest yield and on 

 the other to avoid loss from shattering and storm. In the 



Figure 18a. — Combined harvester and thresher drawn by tractor. 



central and eastern part of the United States it is harvested 

 chiefly with binders. In the western part of the United 

 States, where extensive acreages are grown, much of the 

 harvesting is done with large combination machines that 

 cut, thresh, and sack the wheat in one operation. These 

 machines are hauled by large traction engines or by thirty 

 or more horses. They can be used only where there is no 

 danger of rain, so that the wheat can stand till thoroughly 

 ripe. 



Shocking. — Shocking must be done by hand. A good 

 shock requires that the heads of all the bundles be kept off 

 the ground and protected from rain. Eight or more bundles 

 are firmly set on the ground, butts down and leaning against 

 one another so as to stand erect. The shock is then capped 



