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00000000 1 00 an likes former methods STOOK BUILDER â€"- Retired Glanworth The stooks allow for proper ventilation of farmer Bill Bradish demonstrates pro- grain as it cures for a week or 10 days in per way to build a grain stock on son Tom's Sti Thomas-area farm Saturday. Area farmer longs for old days the sun. (T~J Photo). 000000000000 0 00 By CLYDE WARRINGTON T-J Staff Reporter GLANWORTH -â€" It’s going to take Bill Bradish and the boys 10 days to cut and thrash their way through a six-acre oats field here, but they‘re loving every minute of it. ~ - Mr. Bradish, 67, a retired larmer living in Glan- worth, waxes nostalgic at the sight of a 40-year-old grain binder slowly wading through the thighdeep field and laments the day the combine was invented. "I'd say in all my days of farming, maybe I‘ve done tive acres. all told, on a tractor,” he said, turning down an offer to take over the wheel of the machine. Then he pulls from his pocket an envelope and ex- tracts two fading pictures from inside, showing him leading a horse-drawn binder, “doing the same thing. right here in the same field, 65 years ago. " 'DBY IN SUN Then the elderly gentleman stoops to explain “stocks” carefully bound, mus-pound sheayes at grain, which are stacked side by side in a rectangle to dry in the sun. The sheaves are being collected tor use in the Elgin ~Historcial Show, Aug. 10.11 at the Dan Patterson Conâ€" servation Area, and later, in September. in the inter national Plowing Match and farm equipment show to be held at Talbotville. St. Thomas farm implement dealer Don Williams, a collector of historic farm equipment, said he plans to feed the sheaves into some steam~engine and tractor-powered thrashing machines to demonstrate farming methodsot old. To chop down the field. he invited about 20 area farmers out Saturday to lend a hand. Stocking was about the only method used by farmers to cure their gram prior to the introduction oi combines in the early 19405, Mr. Williams said. Apart from Amish Mennonites who have resisted farm technology, it is a practice which is fading into the history books. TINY HOUSES The slooks resemble tiny thatch houses when assembled properly, They are constructed with the ends lacing north and south fo'r'even drying in the sunlight and offer adequate ventilation tor “a real good cure." Mr. Bradish says. To build a stock, “you start with two sheaves, then you add around until it's braced on all sides," he said. The best stocks are made with 10 sheaves â€" iour per Side, plus the two and pieces. and gaining the knack isn't pariiculariydifficultl “If you stock all day, you‘d be building a pretty good stook by night," he said. After seven to 10 days of curing, the stocks are ready for thrashing. A combine coul'i go through a l Similar held in a clay. skipping the lengthy curing ' process, he said. ..._