THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 379 



More about Grain or Hay-Caps. 



Hay-caps are sometimes made four feet square, hav- 

 ing a wooden pin fastened in the middle of each cap, 

 which pin is thrust into the top of each cock. Then, 

 there are pins fastened to small cords at each of the four 

 corners. But the centre pin is of little use, while it in- 

 creases the expense ; and four feet square is quite too 

 small, to protect cocks of an ordinary size ; or, to pro- 

 tect shocks of grain. 



Experience teaches, that caps will usually be more 

 convenient, when they are made with eyelet-holes at 

 each corner, for receiving the pins, than when the pins 

 are fastened to the middle. When they are made as 

 recommended, the pins can be carried in a basket, and 

 the caps in a large roll, very conveniently ; and if the 

 holes be made at the corners, the caps can be used to 

 cover a stack with ; whereas, they could not be so em- 

 ployed, when the pins are fastened to the corners with 

 cords. The caps should all be made of a uniform size ; 

 and the holes should be marked out by a pattern, so that 

 the caps will all be just alike. 



Now, to protect, or shingle a long stack with caps, 

 begin at the top, and lay one cap on one side of the 

 stack, and another one on the opposite side ; and, let a pin 

 be thrust through a hole in the corner of four different 

 caps on the top of the stack. Then put another course 

 of caps below the first course, and put a pin at the 

 corners. Round stacks cannot be covered with caps in 

 this way. But, long stacks, and stacks that are only 

 partly finished, which need to be protected from a 

 shower of rain, can be covered with caps made as di- 

 rected in a few minutes, so as to turn a heavy rain. 



