90 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



FIG. 77. A slovenly round stack, which may easily soak in 

 rain, fall over, or be blown apart by winds. [Courtesy U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture.] 



"squared up" at all times and the middle always rounding full. The top 

 should be well rounded, and not of a straight, sloping nature. Alfalfa hay 

 settles a great deal, and too much care can not be exercised in so shaping 

 the stack that it will be least likely to soak in the rain, fall over, or be 

 blown apart by the winds. For further insurance against damage by 

 winds, hay is often weighted down; that is, long wires, to the ends of 

 which are attached rocks or other weights, are thrown across the stack. 

 As alfalfa hay does not readily shed rain of itself, some method of 

 protection is usually practiced. The crudest method is to top out the 

 stack with slough grass or some cheap kind of hay. Much better for 

 this purpose are the various kinds of stack covers, made of canvas, boards 

 or metal, which should be well weighted down. (See Figs. 79 to 83.) 



STORING IN SHED OR MOW. 



Hay stored in the shed or mow is usually hauled in from the field with 

 a wagon. Hay wagons may be loaded either with pitchforks or with hay 

 loaders. Because of the fact that side-delivery rakes are generally used 

 in connection with hay loaders, we will first consider side-delivery rakes. 



