148 STACKING THE HAY. 



of moisture present in the heap. This fermen- 

 tation creates a sort of inflammable gas, or 

 air, which, if produced in too great quantities, 

 exceeds the due degree of heat, and at length 

 consumes the fermenting body. The process 

 of fermentation, to a certain extent, is required 

 to make good hay in the stack or, as they 

 say, it must have a heat. As it warms, it set- 

 tles and subsides so much, that the rick ap- 

 pears, in a few days, scarcely half the height 

 which it was when first set up. Sometimes it 

 settles on one side; and occasionally, if ma- 

 naged by unskilful hands, it will topple fairly 

 over, and require complete rebuilding. This is 

 a vexatious occurrence to those concerned, 

 when, perhaps, great exertions are requisite to 

 do the work of this busy season once. 



Whilst we are about the stack, I would de- 

 scribe to my readers the manner in which 



