HANDLING THE HAY CROP 



177 



ley. I made four rickers and eight buck rakes similar 

 to the ones shown in the illustrations. Each ricker was 

 operated by a crew of eight men. Four men drove two 

 buck rakes. There were two on the rick, one at the 



Figure 157. California Hay Ricker, for putting either wild hay 

 or alfalfa quickly in ricks. It is used in connection with home- 

 made buck rakes. This ricker works against the end of the rick 

 and is backed away each time to start a new bench. The upright 

 is made of light poles or 2x4s braced as shown. It should be 28 or 

 30 feet high. Iron stakes hold the bottom, while guy wires steady 

 the top. 



fork and one to drive the hoisting rig. Ten mowing 

 machines did most of the cutting but I hired eight more 

 machines towards the last, as the latest grass was get- 

 ting too ripe. The crop measured more than 2,100 

 tons and it was all put in ricks, stacks and barns with- 

 out a drop of rain on it. I should add that rain sel- 



