FARM CROPS 23 



thoroughly ripe before cutting, the ears hanging 

 down and the straw white. Oats, again, must 

 not get fully ripe or much grain will be shed 

 in carting ; they should be cut when there is a 

 light yellow shade noticeable throughout the 

 field, and when the grains from the greenest 

 ears can be separated from the chaff by rubbing 

 in the hand. 



Corn is usually cut with the string-binder, 

 which cuts and ties the corn into sheaves in 

 one operation ; if, however, much of the corn be 

 laid, the string-binder will be impracticable and 

 the reaper will have to be used and the sheaves 

 tied by hand ; in some cases the scythe will 

 have to be used also where the corn is very 

 badly laid. The sheaves are set in stooks 

 after cutting, each stook consisting of about 

 twelve sheaves, six a-side, and the stooks so 

 placed that they get an equal amount of sun on 

 each side, or the ripening will be uneven. 

 Barley is sometimes allowed to lie loose instead 

 of tying in sheaves, and is then fit to cart 

 sooner. As soon as the sheaves are dry they 

 are carted to the stack, which may be built in 

 the open or under a Dutch barn, and in either 

 case it is essential that the stack should stand 



