394: THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 



without leaning from its erect position. The brace should 

 be secured in its place by nailing a cleat above the upper 

 end across the upright plank, as represented by the illus- 

 tration, Fig. 68 ; and by driving a broad stakp at the 

 lower end of the brace. If one such brace be not suffi- 

 cient, a half dozen may be placed on one side of a stack. 

 Then, after the stack is done settling, the braces may be 

 removed. But if the ends of braces be thrust against a 

 stack, they cannot be taken away at pleasure. 



Furthermore, when tall stacks are in danger of being 

 blown over by a high wind, this manner of bracing them 

 will be found more convenient and efficient than any 

 other mode. 



WHAT CAUSES A STACK TO LEAN. 



When a wheat-stack has been built as true as the form 

 of an egg, it will sometimes settle sideways so far as to 

 fall over unless braces are applied in time. This fact is 

 a mystery to most persons ; and they often ejaculate, 

 inquiringly, " What does 'make it lean f " 



The prime cause must always be attributed to im- 

 perfect workmanship when building a stack. I will 

 mention certain things that cause a stack to lean. When 

 all the grain is pitched on the stack at one side, the 

 heft of the sheaves and the tread of the man who 

 pitches them to the stacker, keeps that side pressed 

 down more compactly than the stack is on the opposite 

 side. Of course the side that is trod down the most will 

 settle least. The settling of the opposite side, more 

 than the side on which the pitcher stood, causes the 

 stack to lean. 



Another cause of leaning is, the sheaves are laid out 



