118 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



always be " topped off," work generally performed 

 in the evening and then liable to be scamped, if the 

 master's eye is not wide open. The topping off 

 should be done in such a manner that if rain falls 

 during the night, it, does not penetrate the cocks. If 

 rain does fall, then the next day, or whenever the 

 weather clears up, the tops, of the cocks are lifted off 

 and spread about and then the base of the cock is 

 capsized so as to turn the bottom up to sun and wind. 

 The making of pikes is a very common custom in 

 parts of Ireland and Scotland, and is well deserving 

 of attention in many other districts. These pikes are 

 built in pyramid shape and vary in weight from 10 to 

 15 cwt. They are cut off and raked down, so as to 

 turn the rain. 



MINIATURE HAY STACKS 



To all intents and purposes, these pikes may be 

 regarded as miniature round hay stacks. In these 

 pikes, the hay is allowed to remain for a week, 

 sometimes several weeks, if the carting does not fit 

 in with the general work. 



This feature is often of the greatest advantage, for 

 once in the pikes, the hay is fairly safe, that is, of 

 course, if they are not allowed to remain, as is often 

 done in Ireland, until some time in November or 

 December, for no other reason under heaven except 

 carelessness. This tendency on the part of the Irish 

 farmer to leave hay in pike for such a long time 

 caused a witty friend of the writer's to describe them 

 as Asquith cocks — " Wait and See." 



The pike system, used with common sense, allows 

 a farmer to push on the work of hay-making. With 

 a small staff of three or four men, equipped with a 

 tippling or tumbling slide rake, one horse, a swathe- 



