Vfl.] STACKING. 



when they are well dried, they ought to be tied 

 into Httle bundles or sheaves, and one of the tops 

 will serve as a band to each sheaf of tops and 

 blades. This is the best way of tying them up, 

 for the sheaves should be small, and this band is 

 sufficient. 



121. No man will choose really wet weather 

 for this work; and he need not choose it; for, 

 there is generally some fine v/eather in the month 

 of September, in which month one half of the 

 barley in England is harvested ; and barley 

 requires a great deal more sun and wind to pre- 

 pare it for housing than the tops and blades of 

 corn require. Indeed, this season of the year 

 gives as good a chance as any other for fine 

 weather ; and if these tops be well got in, 

 they are the most valuable fodder in the world. 

 The tops are stout, and require much more drying 

 than the blades. It is a good way, therefore, to 

 go along the row and first cut off the tops and lay 

 them down in parcels as a sort of bed to lay the 

 blades upon; then to come after, cut off the 

 blades, and lay them down upon the tops. When 

 the blades are pretty dry, which will be at the 

 end of two or three days if the weather be 

 fair, tie up the sheaves, which will bring all the 

 tops to the outsides of the sheaves. Then set 

 up the sheaves in little shocks, and there let 

 them stand until the tops be sufficiently dry. 

 g2 



