HARVESTING WHEAT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1141, 19 February 1884, Page 3

HARVESTING WHEAT.

Mr E. S. Lees sends the following interesting letter to the North Otago Times :

As there seems a great probability of our having showery weather daring the coming harvest, I would urge upon farmers the advisability of putting their wheat as soon as cut into what are called ‘ paddy stacks.’ This plan is probably known to many, but for the benefit of those who may be unacquainted with it I will briefly describe it. As soon as the grain is cut, instead of stocking it in the ordinary way, a large circular stook is formed by placing four four sheaves in the centre and building round till it is one and a half to to two yards in diameter, butts firmly planted and heads well laid in ; a second tier is then placed on the top of the first in the same way, the butts of the outside sheaves covering the heads of the lower one, and the heads of the upper tier so brought together that a couple of cap sheaves with the heads down and the butts drawn to a point and tied, will cover the whole. To secure the stack against wind a couple of toes of binding wire or string may be thrown across and fastened. This plan certainly takes more time than ordinary stocking, but wheat so put up may stand out for weeks in perfect safety, and men soon learn to build these slacks quickly. Had (his practice been universally followed during last harvest fanners would have been richer by thousands of pounds. Oats and barley will hardly do to treat in this way, as unless very ripe when cut there would be a danger of heating. Wheat tied with wire or airing is well adapted for this style of harvesting, as there are no bands to check the wet in running off ; where bands are used the knots of heads on the outer row of sheaves should be placed inside. Wheat cut before it is dead ripe and secured in the above manner will, I believe, produce a better sample of grain than if allowed to sUnd in ordinary stocks.