In the stack-yard a large round stack was being built. A wooden frame was in the middle, and round this a man put the sheaves in a circle as they were thrown to him from the waggon.
“Now, boys,” said Uncle George, “Dolly wants to know why sheaves are made with all the ears of corn at one end. Can you tell us?”
“Oh, that is easy,” said Tom. “The sheaves have to stand in the field for a long time to dry. They could not stand up so well if they were made any other way. Besides, the ears of corn must be up from the ground, or they would be broken off.”
“There is another reason,” said Uncle George. “Look how the stack is being made. The top, or grain end of the sheaf is inside. The outside of the stack is made up of the cut ends of the straws. Thus the grain is kept secure from bad weather and thieving birds. Besides, the stack could not be made round in shape if they were placed in any other way. The bottom of the sheaf is much wider than the top.”
In another part of the yard men were busy roofing the newly built stacks with straw. The straw roof was tied down with many ropes, also made of twisted straw, and then the stack was ready.
“What a lot of work there is in getting corn,” said Frank.
“Ah, yes,” said his uncle, “much more work than we have seen to-day. Think of the work done in the fields in spring, getting the land ready for seed—the work of ploughing, sowing, reaping, and threshing done by the farmer’s men and horses—the work done by the rain and sun in growing and ripening the wheat—the work done by the miller and baker; and all this, Frank, that we may have a loaf of bread.”
Questions and Exercises.
1. Tell the story of a wheat plant from the time it begins to grow from the seed until it is ready to be cut. 2. Where does the making of a loaf of bread really begin? From what you have learnt in the lesson, trace the history of a loaf of bread. 3. Make a list of crops grown on the farm, and tell the use of each.