THE WHEAT CUXTURIST. 393 



difficult to keep the courses from sliding, unless the 

 butts of every sheaf are secured in this way. 



To Prevent a Stack from Leaning. 



A common and effectual way is to build a stack 

 around a tree. Then it must settle evenly ; and main- 

 tain an erect position. Another way worthy of adop- 

 tion is, to set a stiff pole in the ground ; and brace it 

 firmly, on four sides, as previously alluded to. This will 

 be as effectual as a tree. If the pole be set two feet in 

 the ground, and the soil be well rammed around it ; and 

 braces four feet long be nailed to the pole at the upper 

 ends ; and if the lower ends be secured at the surface of 

 the ground by a flat stake, a hurricane would not dis- 

 turb a stack. When a long stack is made, two or three 

 such poles should be set up. It requires but a little re- 

 sistance to keep a stack erect. But, after a stack has 

 settled over, it is no easy job to put it back to an erect 

 position. 



Bracing stacks, after they begin to lean, is often re- 

 sorted to, by thrusting rails, or poles, against one side. 

 This practice, however, is not to be commended, as poles 

 thrust beneath the bilge of a stack, will often turn up 

 the courses of the sheaves, so that the straws will slant 

 toward the middle of the stack, in which position they 

 will convey the rain inward, instead of conducting it 

 off the stack. 



Another mode of maintaining the erect position of a 

 stack is, to brace one side, with a plank and pole, or with 

 two planks, as represented by the braces shown in Fig. 68. 



The upright plank should stand in a perpendicular 

 position, so that the side of the stack may settle down 



17* 



