LESSON XVII 

 HARVESTING CROPS 



The time of harvest depends mainly on the kind of 

 crop and the use made of it. If corn is grown for the 

 mature grain, the harvesting takes place in the fall 

 after it is thoroughly ripe. If it is grown to be used 

 as a vegetable, it is gathered while the grains are still 

 soft and milky. Oats grown for the grain are cut after 

 the seeds are nearly mature, while if grown for hay, they 

 are cut while the stems and leaves are green and before 

 the seeds have developed much. Pears are much 

 better if picked green and allowed to ripen in storage, 

 and winter apples will ripen after they have been 

 picked. Some fruits, however, cannot be picked while 

 green. If grapes are picked while they are green 

 and sour, they will never get sweet. 



Hay and grain. In the greater part of our country 

 the hay and grain harvests come close together, and 

 this season is usually the busiest time of the year. 

 Most of the grain crops must be harvested just before 

 the seeds are fully ripe. If the harvest is delayed too 

 long, the grains of wheat, oats, and barley will drop 

 from the heads to the ground. The kernels of corn 

 are tightly fastened to the cob and protected by the 



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