Straw.
There are two similies: "like a whirlwind" and "like the chaff of the summer threshing floor".
The farmer spent the long summer days threshing the wheat, separating the grain from the chaff. As the sun set, the rhythmic sound of the threshing machine echoed across the fields, signaling the end of a fruitful harvest.
The mass of husks separated from the seeds of cereal grain during threshing is known as chaff. Chaff is the dry, scaly protective casings of the seeds that are removed during the threshing process, leaving behind the desired edible grains.
A threshing floor is a flat, hard surface used in agriculture for separating grain from the chaff. Traditionally, harvested crops were spread out on these floors, and animals or tools were used to beat the grain, allowing the heavier seeds to fall through while the lighter chaff was blown away. Threshing floors are often made of packed dirt or stone and can be found in various cultures worldwide, playing a crucial role in food production and storage. In some contexts, they also hold cultural and historical significance.
You can separate grains and stalks by threshing, which involves beating the harvested crop to remove the grains from the stalks. Afterwards, winnowing can be used to separate the lighter chaff from the heavier grains by allowing the wind to blow away the chaff while the grains fall back down.
The grain that is separated from the chaff is typically referred to as "threshing." In a more metaphorical sense, the term "grain" itself can represent the valuable or essential part of something, while "chaff" refers to the worthless or extraneous material. In agriculture, the process of separating grain from chaff is crucial for harvesting and processing crops.
In biblical times, wheat separation was normally performed by hand. The workers would beat on the harvested wheat with sticks, branches, or a similar tool, then throw it into the air on a windy day to allow the chaff (outer hulls) to blow away.
A threshing machine is a farm implement used to separate grain from straw and chaff. It works by beating the plants to release the grain, which is then collected for further processing. Threshing machines have been instrumental in increasing the efficiency of grain harvesting.
Winnowing and threshing are both agricultural processes used to separate grains from chaff and straw. Threshing involves mechanically or manually beating the harvested crops to loosen the grains from their husks, while winnowing follows, using air to blow away the lighter chaff and debris, leaving the heavier grains behind. Both methods are essential in the post-harvest treatment of crops and aim to improve the quality and purity of the harvested grain. They are often performed sequentially in traditional and modern farming practices.
Tonight we are winnowing barley on the threshing-floor.
Threshing is the process of separating grains from their husks or stalks after harvesting. Examples include using a threshing machine to separate wheat grains from the chaff, manually beating bundles of rice to release the grains, or employing traditional methods like trampling harvested crops with livestock. In modern agriculture, combines perform both harvesting and threshing in one operation, efficiently processing crops like corn and soybeans.
Naomi