1884.1 HARVESTING IN TEE STACK. 429 



spikes for fixing into the ground, and ou the top iron pins are attached 

 upon which a wooden or iron frame is placed, of the size of the stack. 

 In the centre of this frame an upright iron rest takes a pole, over 

 which a rick-cloth is thrown. 



When the crop is ready to be stacked, the frame is easily erected. 

 The standards are placed in the ground a little outside the four corners 

 of the intended stack, and the wooden frame placed on the top, by 

 which the standards are kept upright and in place. A straddle of 

 boughs should be placed in the ordinary way as a foundation, upon 

 which the stack will ultimately rest. A j)air of angle irons are 

 then laid upon the lowest brackets and the wire placed in position. 

 The first layer of hay is now laid till the level of the next pair of 

 brackets is reached, a second set of wires is then placed, and so on to 

 the top of the stack. 



Each section will, as the hay dries and occupies less space, settle 

 away from the one above it, and thus allow the passage of a free cur- 

 rent of air through the whole stack. 



When the stack is finished the rick-cloth is put on. 



The hay should remain in the frame till all superfluous moisture is 

 drawn out of it (probably for about three weeks), when the frame may 

 be taken down to make a second stack. To do this, the wires of the 

 bottom section are first released by pushing up the knobs and drawing 

 out the wires, when the hay will fall upon the straddle. In like 

 manner the next section, and so on to the top, when the angle irons 

 can be lifted down and the standards removed. The rick will then be 

 ready for thatching. 



Two or more ricks may be made with one frame in the same season. 



It is believed that this system of harvesting crops in the stack will 

 be very largely adopted, owing to the great difficulty in bad seasons 

 experienced in the ordinary method ; and the recent trials have 

 shown that if hay or any other crop is put into a rick in too green a 

 condition, the over-heating and other evils resulting therefrom cannot 

 be overcome, as it was hoped might be the case, by the use of exhaust 

 fans or similar means. The attention, therefore, of agriculturists is 

 invited to the system now advocated as a practical solution of the 

 question. 



The first cost of the apparatus is a small item ; a frame, with all 

 appliances, for stacking 10 tons of hay, costing from ^912 to £18, and 

 other sizes in proportion. One such frame will make two or more 

 stacks in one season, and being all constructed of iron will last for 

 many years. It is very light and portable, weighing complete, for 

 10 ton size, under 20 cwt. It is also easily and quickly erected, and 

 requires no skilled labour in using it. 



The great saving of labour in putting the hay direct from the 

 mowing machine into the stack is obvious. 



