THRASHING WHEAT 157 



This projection is called "the bulge." The bulge permits 

 the outer edge of the stack to settle more than the center, 

 which gives a slant to all outer bundles so that they may 

 shed water. When the stack has been laid out to the size 

 and height desired, the middle is then filled quite full, by 

 putting in additional courses of bundles, so as to give a good 

 slant to all of the outside bundles. Each succeeding outside 

 tier is then drawn in from 4 to 6 inches farther than the tier 

 next under it. In this way the stack grows gradually smaller 

 as it gets higher, until it is finally finished in a nicely rounded 



Fig. 55. Combined harvester and thrasher drawn by traction engine. A 

 machine of the same type as that shown in Fig. 51. 



peak. The top bundles are usually held in place by pushing 

 a stick 8 or 10 feet long, sharpened at both ends, down into 

 the center of the stack. Sometimes an inverted bundle, with 

 the band near the butt, is put down over the sharp stick, 

 as the final cap of the stack. In some cases the peak is 

 covered with a forkful of hay. Care must be taken not to 

 make the top of the stack too steep, or it is likely to be blown 

 off. 



195. Thrashing. Wheat may be thrashed from the 

 shock or stack as desired. Thrashing from the shock is 



