FIELD CROPS 477 



at the time when the grain begins to fill. Opinions vary greatly 

 as to supply of water needed by this crop. It is probable that 15 

 to 20 inches is the most profitable quantity, though where plenty 

 of water is available much more is ordinarily applied. The quan- 

 tity of water to be applied depends upon the nature of the soil. The 

 danger, especially where water is plentiful, is in overirrigation. 



Harvesting the Crop. Oats are usually cut with the grain 

 binder, though in the drier sections the header is used, and occasion- 

 ally the crop is harvested with the combined harvester and thrasher. 

 When the straw is very short, owing to dry weather, or when the 

 crop is badly lodged, cutting with the mower may be necessary. 

 The grain may then be raked and put into cocks, which should be 

 well built so as to shed rain. The proper time to cut oats is when 

 they are in the hard-dough stage. If cut before this time, the grain 

 is not well filled, shrivels in curing, and is light in weight. If 

 allowed to become fully ripe before cutting, a considerable portion 

 of the crop shatters out and is lost in harvesting, and the danger 

 of damage from storms is also increased. Where a large acreage 

 is to be harvested it is advisable to begin cutting when the grain ia 

 about to pass out of the milk stage, otherwise a considerable portion 

 of the crop is likely to become too ripe before it can be cut. 



If the grain is ripe or in the hard-dough stage when cut it may 

 be placed at once in round shocks which shoulcf be capped to pre- 

 vent damage from rain and dew. The best quality of grain can be 

 harvested under these conditions. If the grain is green or if the bun- 

 dles contain a considerable quantity of weeds, they should be allowed 

 to cure for a few hours before shocking, and should then be placed 

 in long shocks, which may or may not be capped. Long shocks 

 allow the sun and air to penetrate much more readily than round 

 ones, and are to be preferred when the grain is not well cured. 

 Equally good protection is afforded by capping the long shocks. 

 Grain which is wet from dew or rain should oe allowed to dry 

 before it is placed in shocks. In sections where strong winds pre- 

 vail during the harvest season capping is not advisable, as the caps 

 blow off and the grain in the cap sheaves is injured by contact with 

 the ground. 



Stacking. Where grain is stacked it is important that the 

 stacks be well built. If the stacks are so carelessly put up that they 

 will not shed water the grain might much better be allowed to stand 

 in the shock. The bottom of the stack should be set up from the 

 ground slightly by laying down old rails or other material to keep 

 the grain from coming in contact with the earth. This will pre- 

 vent the absorption of moisture from below. The shape of the 

 stack is less important than the manner in which the bundles are 

 laid. They should be so placed that only the butts are exposed, and 

 so that water will readily run off the sides of the stack and not 

 penetrate enough to wet the grain. The round form of stack prob- 

 ably sheds water better than the long ricks sometimes constructed. 

 If the rick is built the top should be covered with straw or wild hay 

 to keep out water. 



