OATS HARVESTING, MARKETING, ENEMIES 297 



out of canvas. Carefully built shocks which expose as 

 little grain to the weather as possible produce the best 

 quality of grain. Oats that are green when cut or that 

 contain large quantities of weeds should be placed in long 

 shocks, which may or may not be capped. In sections 

 subject to frequent rains at harvest time capping is advisa- 

 ble. Oats should never be shocked while wet from dew or 

 rain. 



Oats that have been cut with the mower should lie in 

 the swath or windrow until they are partially cured; then 

 they should be placed in carefully built cocks. In sections 

 subject to much rain, canvas covers should be provided 

 for these cocks. 



363. Stacking. In the humid part of the cotton-belt 

 it is usually necessary to stack oats intended for grain, 

 particularly if the thrasher cannot be put into the field 

 as soon as the grain is fit to thrash. Stacking should be 

 done as soon as the oats have completely cured out in the 

 shock. Leaving them for a considerable time in the shock 

 where they are unnecessarily exposed to unfavorable 

 weather is responsible for much bleached, sprouted, or 

 bin-damaged grain. The stack should be well built on a 

 base made of poles or rails to prevent the grain from com- 

 ing in contact with the earth. The bundles should be so 

 placed that only the butts are exposed and with slope 

 enough to prevent water from running back the stems into 

 the stack. The stack should be well capped to shed water. 



In dry sections and where thrashing machines are readily 

 available, oats are often thrashed from the shock without 

 stacking. Where this can be done without damaging the 

 grain it is more economical than stacking. 

 * 364. Thrashing and storing. For best results, the 

 grain must be thoroughly dry when thrashed. Care must 



