456 Cultivation of Graft Land. Stacking of Hay. 



gular tedding that is given the hay becomes of a more valuable quality, heats m 

 the flack or mow in a more uniform and equal manner, and cuts out better in the 

 trufs. 



It is like\vife well obferved, that no more of the produce mould be thrown 

 abroad than can be put up into cock the fame day, or before it is injured by the 

 fall of rain. When the weather is unfettled, it may often be permitted to remaia 

 in the Avath for feveral days, only taking care that the underfides do not become 

 difcoloured by turning them over by the head of the rake. In this way it will fre 

 quently be fo much made, in a few days, as to require little tedding afterwards to 

 form good hay.* 



The prcferving hay of a proper green colour is a circumflance of fome import 

 ance. In order to effect it the baflard cocks, previous to their being carried, fhould 

 be put up in the heat of the day and remain in that condition till the following 

 morning, when they muft be turned and opened fo as to difpel any damp that 

 might induce it to heat in the flack, and in that way fpoil thecolour.f Theacqui- 

 fition ofalightifh brown colour in the flack is not found injurious to hay, but where 

 it becomes of a dark brown from too much heat, it is faid to weaken and relax 

 horfes :hat are fed upon it by its powerful diuretic quality. It is of courfe of 

 inferior value. 



The rawr/z, or fecond crops of hay, from their being flender, having fewer fuc- 

 culent flems, in mofl cafes require lefs time in being made into hay than the firft. 

 In fecurtng this fort of hay it is, however, advantageous to have it well made, as 

 without this it will be very liable to grow mouldy in the flack and become of a 

 bad colour from taking on too great a degree of heat, as the lefs it heats in the flack 

 the more green the colour will be. 



Stacking and Thatching Hay. In performing this bufinefs it is always advifable 

 to hfivefladdles made for the purpofe, fomewhat in the fame manner as thofe that 

 have been recommended for grain, though it is too common a practice to build 

 hay-ftacks without ever attending to this circumflance. They need not, how 

 ever, for this ufc be raifed To high or have any fhelving outwards, but be quite 

 plumb and without copings. In the common method of placing them upon the 

 ground, on a little drift, or a few pieces of wood laid acrofs each other, there muft 

 conflantly be great lofs in the bottom parts of the flacks from the moiflure being 

 abforbed by the hay ; .but by the ufe of fladdles this may be wholly avoided, and 

 the expenfewill be but a trifle, as any old rough pieces of wood will anfwer the 

 purpofe, 



* Middled* Report, t Ibid, 



