WHEAT 263 



in the field. In some seasons it makes little dif- 

 ference what sort of shock is set up, or whether set 

 up at all. If a rainy period prevails a difiference 

 results, and a big difiference. The plan of setting 

 the bundles two by two, without caps, is a bad 

 custom during rainy seasons. The heads being 

 wholly exposed, a great number of kernels sprout, 

 even grow if the showers are frequent and the 

 weather hot. Wheat shocked in this manner is 

 often practically ruined. Hasty shocking may pass 

 as a rule, but there always comes a time when the 

 loss is a severe penalty. 



It is a good rule to set the shocks carefully with 

 some permanency and then the risk of loss in the 

 field will be much less. When the grain is fairly 

 ripe, two sets of two bundles may be set with the 

 tops leaning toward the center. About these are 

 set other bundles; one on each end and two on 

 each side, with two well-broken and flattened 

 bundles on top for caps. So set, the shocks 

 stand well, are firm and plenty of ventilation 

 is possible for the grain and straw to dry out 

 readily. Thus set, with caps well made and well 

 placed, long periods of wet weather will be with- 

 stood without any injury to the grain. 



Good Stack for Wheat. — The custom of thresh- 

 ing from the shock has been spreading for years. 

 It has its advantages and disadvantages, all of 

 which each grain grower knows and understands. 

 The general art of stacking, because the custom 

 of stacking is now not so universal, has become lost 

 in some sections, and only the most indififerent 

 makeshift sorts of stacking result as a consequence. 

 Many stacks leak if heavy rains continue. The 

 water goes down into the stack from the top, or is 



