WHEAT. 253 



during the winter months ; the stock is turned out of the field 

 at the end of July and the crop then allowed to mature. 



Harvesting. — Wheat should be reaped with a self-binder 

 or mower as soon as the kernels have reached the hard dough 

 stage — i.e., when an impression can still be made with the 

 finger nail. Maturity will be completed in the bundles. If 

 allowed to become too mature heavy losses will occur through 

 shattering, particularly with some varieties. It should be 

 stocked in shocks of 10 to 12 bundles and allowed to mature 

 fully and to dry-out in these shocks. It should subsequently 

 be stacked ready for threshing. If stacked too early the grain 

 may be seriously damaged by over-heating. Where a header 

 or stripper is used the crop is harvested when fully mature. 



Threshing. — In growing wheat for seed the first few- 

 bags run through should be put aside as these are likely to 

 have seeds of other varieties and impurities carried by the 

 thresher from the last farm. 



If the wheat has a large percentage of impurities or 

 shrunken seeds due to rust, poor soil or drought, it should 

 be winnowed. The tailings can be used as stock and chicken 

 food, etc., but if sold with the good wheat the price will be 

 very much decreased. With the introduction of elevators 

 wheat grades will probably be introduced and quality will 

 receive more marked attention than at present. 



Uses. — It is chiefly used for bread-making purposes, also 

 in the manufacture of macaroni, vermicelli and breakfast 

 foods such as grape-nuts, puffed-wheat, etc. ; it also finds its 

 use in the distilling of alcoholic drinks such as whiskey. The 

 grain as well as the by-products, bran, pollards, etc., is used 

 as stock food. The straw as previously stated is low in nutri- 

 tive value; but is sometimes used as a roughage, bedding, and 

 for a great number of commercial purposes. The crop is also 

 grown paj^ly for grazing and for hay, the latter particularly 

 in countries like Australia. 



Wheat Improvement. — Wheat is self-fertilised. Natural 

 hybrids are rarely found; consequently, improved strains are 

 easily kept pure. The popular belief that wheat degenerates, 

 and, therefore, a change of seed is necessary, is unproven. 

 Zavitz has grown the same varieties for nearly thirty years, 

 and the present yield is somewhat in advance of the original 

 yields. Montgomery says : " While every grower should 

 always be on the look-out for new or improved varieties, he 

 should, in the main, grow the variety that long experience 



