THRESHING WHEAT 145 



and height desired, the middle is then filled quite full, by 

 putting in additional courses of bundles, so as to give a good 

 slant to all the outside bundles. Each succeeding outside 

 tier is then drawn in from 4 to 6 inches farther than the tier 

 next under it. In this way the stack grows gradually smaller 

 as it gets higher, until it is finally finished in a nicely rounded 



Figure 39. — Combined harvester and thresher drawn by traction engine. 



peak. The top bundles are usually held in place by pushing 

 a stick 8 or 10 feet long, sharpened at both ends, down into 

 the center of the stack. Sometimes an inverted bundle, with 

 the band near the butt, is put down over the sharp stick, 

 as the final cap of the stack. In some cases the peak is 

 covered with a forkful of hay. Care must be taken not to 

 make the top of the stack too steep, as it may be blown off. 

 185. Threshing, Wheat maj^ be threshed from the 

 shock or stack as desired. Threshing from the shock is 

 cheaper, and is desirable if one can get the threshing machine 

 at the proper time so the work can l^e done as soon as the 

 grain is in fit condition. On farms of moderate size, where 

 the threshing is hired, it is seldom possible to get the machine 

 just when desired. The difference in cost is not sufficient to 

 warrant taking chances of injury to the grain by bad weather, 

 and it is better to stack wheat as soon as it is dry enough 

 after cutting than to take chances l)y waiting for a machine. 



