AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK, 



In all cases, it is usually bound with a band made of its own* 

 straw into sheaves, and set up in shocks to dry. 



184. It is either (a t ) stacked out of doors, or (b,) put into 

 a barn ; (c,) or thrashed in the field. 



185. It is thrashed faj by a flail; (bj by horses or cattle 

 treading on it; (c,) by a machine moved by horse-power; (d,) 

 or, among the French, by a machine called Le Liable. 



186. The chaff is separated from the grain by (a t ) a Fan 

 ning Mill, or (b t ) by the wind. 



186. It is then ready for (aj storing in the granary, or (b,) 

 sending to market, which is usually done in bags holding two 

 measured bushels. 



188. It has been already stated (163) that the comparative- 

 ripeness affects the weight and quality of the grain. The best 

 practical rule is to cut when a grain of wheat pressed between 

 the finger and thumb is easily crushed, and yields a considera 

 ble quantity of juice ; and when the straw is still more or less 

 green, especially near the root. Some experience, however, is- 

 requisite in determining the exact time. 



189. For seed, on the contrary, wheat should be allowed to- 

 stand until it is quite ripe ; and then selected with care. The 

 best wheat is raised from seed carefully selected from large heads. 

 In former days, when wheat was winnowed by the wind, the 

 largest and heaviest grains were preserved for seech Great im 

 provement, both in the variety and crop, may undoubtedly be 

 affected by exercising care in this particular. Experiments seem 

 to prove that wheat thrashed by a machine frequently has the- 

 germinating power destroyed; and though it may throw out 

 leaves is deficient in roots, and therefore perishes. 



The Boston Cultivator, 1845, gives an instance of a farmer in Ver 

 mont, who saved his seed wheat, who used, before thrashing, to select 

 the best sheaves, and striking them over the side of an empty barrel as 

 it lay on the floor, three or four times, he obtained a very superior seed 

 wlaeat. Thus the largest and ripest kernels were seperated arid collect- 



