156 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



should be chosen with a clear atmosphere, free from vapour, 

 following others of a like favourable nature ; but sometimes 

 necessity from existing circumstances will not permit the 

 awaiting of such season; then is the advantage of having 

 a stack situated conveniently near the barn highly to be 

 valued. Again, a clear winter's morning is not always 

 followed by a fine day, and the work of removal having 

 commenced a storm overtaking loads by the way the 

 greater the distance the loads have to travel the more in- 

 jury to them results in consequence. Even in such case, 

 if no rain actually falls, a lengthened exposure to the at- 

 mosphere tends to give the grain a damp condition. I do 

 not object to making stacks in the field when it is to be 

 thrashed by steam; but the spot selected should be adja- 

 cent to a good road, so as to enable the corn and straw to 

 be drawn separately to the homestead if required. Thrash- 

 ing, whether conducted in the field or in the barn, has 

 each its own proper season, and should be carried on with 

 greater regard to atmospheric influences than is frequently 

 observed. It may be prosecuted away from the barn in 

 the open air during the summer months when fine weather 

 prevails, and thus the corn may derive much benefit from 

 the sun's rays or a drying wind ; but I consider that during 

 the two last and two first months in the year, viz., No- 

 vember, December, January, and February, it is preferable 

 in most cases to transfer the greater portion to the barn ; 

 an exception may occasionally be made, such as during 

 frosty weather. It is in some measure due to the carrying 

 on of out-door thrashing by steam power at all seasons of 

 the year, as pursued by many, that complaints from factors 

 and millers are sometimes made of the condition of the 

 grain offered in the market during the winter season ; when 

 it is sometimes scarcely fit to be ground up at once, still 

 less suited for storing away any length of time, or for 

 shipment. This fact should not be forgotten by those who 

 assert, from the want of being more practically informed, 

 that barns are unnecessary to a farm under present circum- 

 stances. The benefit derived from having, not one barn 



