14 BULLETIN 627, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
been made for the use of the wagon in any case, as this is a factor 
which is exceedingly hard to determine with accuracy, since the 
wagons are used for so many other purposes. If properly cared for 
they will last many years and the cost would, therefore. be prac- 
tically negligible. 
From the figures in this table it will be seen that the cost of stack- 
ing wheat varies from 80 cents to $1.065 per acre, or from 5 to 64 
cents per bushel on a 16-bushel yield. The cost of stacking is little 
if any greater than the cost of hauling from shock to the separator 
when thrashing. Having the grain in stacks expedites thrashing 
scmewhat and at the same time reduces the number of men and 
horses required. 
Where stacking is properly done the grain is better protected in 
stacks than in shecks.* In wet seasons or when thrashing can not be 
done soon after cutting, the importance of this protection is increased. 
A sweating process also takes place in the stack, which improves to 
some extent the color, condificn, and test weight of the grain and its 
milling and baking qualities. The improvement may be sufficient 
to obtain a better market grade, with resulting higher price when 
sold. A similar sweating process apparently may take place in 
shock-thrashed wheat after being placed in the bin, but to take ad- 
vantage of this the farmer must have storage room for his thrashed 
grain and must also get it thrashed from the shock while it is in as 
good condition as when placed in the stack. 
TaBLeE VIIl.—Labor cost per acre and per bushel of stacking wheat with man- 
labor at $2 and horse-labor at $1.20 per day of 10 hours. 
Labor cost per acre. 
! 
| 
! Cost per 
Number | , ae bushel 
Operation. of per (16- 
horses. | gay. | Man. | Horse.| Total viel. 
1 man pitching and 1 man loading (1 wagon)!... 2 .6 | $0.663 | $0.40 | $1.064 $0. 063 
2 Mens pipehine i wagon)? one se eee eae ae 2 8 - 50 - 30 - 80 05 
2 men pitching (2 wagons)?....-..-....--:------- 4 10 - 40 -48 - 88 - 053 
1 Hayracks are commonly used in the East. 2Western type of bundle wagon. 
Other advantages of stacking are that it makes it possible in wet 
weather to thrash the wheat more completely from the straw, thus 
saving more of the grain, and to remove more of the chaff, thus 
securing cleaner grain. Thrashing can begin sooner after rains if 
wheat is stacked, especially if the stacks are protected by a cover of 
any kind. In thrashing from the shock after a period of rainy 
weather the grain secured is nearly always somewhat damp and 
tough, as the tendency is to begin thrashing too soon after rains. 
Stacking also permits early fall plowing, which is particularly de- 
1 Acknowledgment is due Messrs. Clyde E. Leighty and Carleton R. Ball, agronomists 
in charge of Eastern and Western Wheat Investigations, respectively, for information 
concerning the effect of stacking on the quality of wheat. 
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