MEADOWS AND MAKING HAY. 427 



to the place of feeding, that it will be conveyed to the 

 animals which feed upon it with the least possible 

 amount of labor. 



When stored in large quantities in barns, stables or 

 indeed anywhere, it is lifted from the load and dumped 

 in the mow, hay shed or stack, as the case may be, by 

 means of horse-forks or, what is usually better, slings 

 where they can be used. With the latter, the entire 

 load may be taken up and put in place by means of two 

 or three separate draughts. When taken up with the 

 horse-fork, more or less hay falls back again with each 

 draught and has to be relifted. When lifted by either 

 method, careful attention should be given to the even 

 and systematic distribution of -the hay in the mow, that 

 it may pack evenly and be taken out again in the regular 

 way. To accomplish this calls for great diligence and 

 fidelity on the part of those who work in the warm mows, 

 when hay is being stored rapidly. 



Hay sheds are usually oblong in shape and may be 

 of any size desired. They are usually made by setting 

 upright posts in the ground and putting plates on them 

 and on these rafters sustaining a ridge roof. Suspended 

 from the ridge a track may be constructed, if desired, 

 to carry a fork or sling in storing the hay. These are 

 usually open on every side. Where hay has to be han- 

 dled a second time, these sheds may be made to render 

 excellent service, since they may be erected in the midst 

 of a permanent meadow and thus furnish safe protec- 

 tion for the hay which is stored with the least possible 

 loss of time in conveying it to the place of storage. 



When stacking hay, poles should first be laid under- 



