144 FIELD CROPS 



side of the shock are filled by placing two bundles against 

 each side. Two bundles are used for the cap. These bun- 

 dles are laid lengthwise of the shock, and care is taken so 

 that the butts of the bundles do not extend out over the 

 shock. This is a very good form of shock for any kind of 

 grain. Figure 57 shows a well-built shock. It is worth 

 while to build shocks in the best way possible. 



Figure 08. — Stacksof wheat a waiting the thre.-hini:cmafhi ne. Abetter quality of strain 

 ia usually obtained from stacking than from threshing from the shock. 



184. Stacking. Much of the wheat grown in the United 

 States is stacked before it is threshed. A stack is usually 

 made by starting a round shock and continuing to lean 

 bundles against it until a bottom of the desired size is made. 

 The stack is then built up by laying the bundles horizontally 

 in tiers beginning from the outside, the inner tiers lapping 

 over the next outer tier, thus holding the stack together. 

 A grain stack is usually built up quite level for the lower 6 

 to 10 feet. Each outer tier of bundles is extended out over 

 the stack a few inches so that the stack is larger in circum- 

 ference at a height of from 4 to 8 feet than it is on the ground. 

 This projection is called ''the bulge." The bulge permits 

 the outer edge of the stack to settle more than the center, 

 which gives a slant to all outer bundles so that they may 

 shed water. When the stack has been laid out to the size 



