TOPPING AND [Chap. 



122. I have made provision for distances 

 sufficient to admit a cart to go along without 

 running over the corn. The cart, going along 

 one interval, will take up as it goes the sheaves 

 in that interval and those in the two adjoining 

 intervals. The ox or the horse will, of course, 

 go up the furrow in the middle of the interval ; 

 and then, if the wheels of the cart be not, as 

 they ought not to be, more than four feet three 

 inches from each other, measuring from outside 

 to outside of the bonds of the wheels, neither of 

 the wheels can possibly disturb the corn. The 

 reader will here perceive the great use of the 

 distances that I have prescribed, and the necessity 

 of causing the ploughing to be true. 



123. When the tops are ready for carting, 

 prepare a bed or steaddle for them about five or 

 six feet wide, and of length according to the 

 quantity which you have to stack. Make this 

 of fagots, or furze, or of any thing sufficient to 

 keep the bottom sheaves a foot at least clear of the 

 ground. Lay on the sheaves, butt-end outwards, 

 on each side of the stack, and bind them in the 

 middle by laying some sheaves long-ways. Carry 

 the stack to a convenient height, and thatch it 

 slenderly with straw. You have now a precious 

 deposite for the winter. It will be of greater or 

 less value, just as hay is, according to the weather 

 in which you have harvested it; but, it is liable to 



