OATS 



161 



delayed too long, the crop may become overripe and loss 

 will occur by shattering. Oats usually contain more 

 moisture at the time of cutting than wheat, and in order 

 that they may dry thoroughly, the bundles are set up in 

 smaller shocks than wheat. Usually 7 to 9 bundles form 

 a shock. The shock should be well formed, since the 



Fig. 57. — Treating seed oats for smut. The formalin method. 



straws are not so stiff as those of wheat, and the shocks 

 are more likely to go down, which will often result in 

 injury to the quality of the grain from weathering. Oats 

 may either be thrashed from the shock as soon as they 

 have dried out, or they may be stacked or stored in the 

 mow for later thrashing. 



149. Improvement of oats. — The same methods for 

 the improvement of oats are employed as have been 

 described in the paragraph on the improvement of wheat. 



