^7 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



particularly with barley crops, to have three or four pretty large poles tied together, by 

 winding straw ropes round them, set up in the middle, round which the stacks are then 

 built. But except the stacks are large, or the grain when put into them in an imperfect 

 condition, such openings are quite unnecessary. 



3044. The stacking of hay requires much care and attention in the person employed 

 for the purpose, though less than that of building corn stacks. There should constantly 

 be a proper stand or foundation, somewhat raised by wood or other materials, prepared 

 for placing tlie stacks upon ; but nothing of the coping kind is here necessary. In the 

 business of stacking hay, the work should constantly be performed as much as possible 

 while the sun is upon the hay, as much advantage is thus gained in its quality : and it is 

 necessary to have a stacker that has been accustomed to the business, and a proper 

 number of persons to help upon the stack, in order that it may^be well spread out and 

 trodden down. 



3045. The building of hay-stacks should be conducted much in the same way as those of 

 loose grain (3041.) ; the middle of the stack being always well kept up a little higher 

 than the sides, and the sides and ends well bound in by the proper application of the 

 successive portions of hay as the work advances, and during which it is a good way, 

 where there are plenty of hands, to have the sides and ends properly pulled into form, as 

 by this means much after-labor is prevented. It is likewise of advantage, that the hay 

 should be well shaken and broken from the lumps, during the operation of stacking. 

 The form in which the stacks are built is not of much consequence, but if large, and 

 made in the square form, it is better not to have them too broad, or of too great width, 

 as by this means they are less apt to heat. With the intention of preventing too much 

 heat, sometimes in building hay-stacks, as well as those of the grain kind, holes, pipes, 

 and chimneys are left in the middle, that the excessive heat may be discharged. But 

 there is often injury sustained by them, from their attracting too much moisture. 



3046. The hay-stacks of Middlesex, it is observed by Middleton, are more neatly form- 

 -ed and better secured than any where else. At every vacant time, while the stack is 

 carrying up, the men are employed in pulling it with their hands into a proper shape, 

 and about a week after it is finished the whole roof is properly thatched, and then secured 

 from receiving any damage from the wind, by means of a straw rope, extending along 

 the eaves, up the ends, and near the ridge. The ends of the thatch are afterwards cut 

 evenly below the eaves of the stack, just of sufficient length for the rain water to drip 

 quite clear off the hay. When the stack happens to be placed in a situation which may 

 be suspected of being too damp in the winter, a trench of about six or eight inches deep 

 is dug round, and nearly close to it, which serves to convey all the water from the spot, 

 and renders it perfectly dry and secure. 



3047. The stack guard {fig' 418.), or covering of canvass, is employed in some dis- 

 tricts to protect the stack while building in a wet season. In Kent and Surrey, the half 

 worn sails of ships are made use of for this purpose, though in most parts of the north, a 

 covering of loose straw or hay is found sufficient in ordinary cases ; but where, from a 

 continued rain, the stack is penetrated some way down, a part is removed on recom- 

 mencing, and dried before being replaced. It is observed by Marshal, that a sail cloth 

 thrown over, and immediately upon the hay of a stack in full heat, is liable to do more 

 injury by increasing the heat, and at the same time checking the ascent of the stean), than 

 service in shooting off rain water. The improved method of spreading the cloth, he de- 

 scribes as follows : two tall poles (a, a) are inserted tinnly in two cart wheels (/;, b), 

 which are laid flat upon the ground at each end of the stack, and loaded with stones to 

 increase their stability. Another pole of the same kind, and somewhat longer than the 

 stack, is furnished at each end with an iron ring or hoop, large enough to admit the up- 

 right poles and to pass freely upon them. Near the head of each of the standards is a 



