WHEAT 77 



be easily learned by practice, but the average 

 hired harvest hand is usually a poor shocker. In 

 windy, dry climates as in our western plains, 

 where storms may be severe but with no great 

 amount of rain, it may be advisable to build a 

 round shock without caps something after the 

 manner of a miniature stack. Lay one bundle 

 on the ground and break the top back to keep the 

 heads off the ground; set two others over this 

 one at right angles, with heads crossing. Now 

 fill in the angles with other bundles thus thatching 

 the shock and bringing the top of the last bundle 

 over the heads of the others until nine to thirteen 

 bundles have been placed in the shock. The bun- 

 dles should all stand quite sloping. Such a shock 

 will shed rain well and will not blow over. 



STACKING 



In parts of our wheat growing areas, bundle 

 stacking is almost a lost art because of the present 

 day practice of threshing out of the shock. In 

 the writer's judgment, this is a mistake. There 

 may not be any economy in stacking if the thresh- 

 ing can be done early and as soon as the grain 

 is dry enough, but this is not usually the case. 

 Many farmers are obliged to leave their grain in 

 the field for several weeks or months, until the 

 thresher can make the rounds of several other 

 farms, and if unfavorable weather intervenes the 

 grain may be badly damaged; while, if such grain 

 could be stacked in well made stacks just when 

 it is in prime condition, it would mean a great 

 saving of grain and the extra labor would be 



