MAKING VETCH HAY 125 



The writer has adopted a special system of making 

 sweet stack silage for use when weather conditions 

 are unsuitable for making hay. To make sweet stack 

 silage on this plan the forage crop is cut by the 

 ordinary mowing machine. If the crop is " lodged," 

 the work of cutting is facilitated by fitting the 

 machine with a pea harvester. 



SWEET STACK SILAGE 



To facilitate drying, and the use of the sweep and 

 swathe- turner, the crop is cut so as to leave a high 

 stubble. When the swathes have become a little dry 

 on the upper surface, they are turned completely over 

 with the swathe-turner. Immediately the swathes 

 are turned, they are hauled direct to the stack by 

 means of a small horse sweep, or, if stacking in the 

 field is not possible, by means of a hay bogie or rick 

 shifter. Much less labour is involved in loading the 

 crop on such a low-built conveyance as a hay bogie 

 than on the ordinary farm cart or waggon. 



THE ART OF STACKING 



The stack is usually built in circular form with a 

 base diameter of from 18 to 24 feet. A layer of waste 

 material is laid on the ground to form the base of the 

 stack. A few sweep rake loads are then tipped direct 

 on to the base, and are trimmed up and shaken into 

 position with a hand fork. After the stack is 3 or 4 

 feet high, all further lifting is done with the horse 

 fork. 



In building, the outer edge of the stack is made to 

 slope slightly inwards, and when a height of about 



