150 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



The principal pel-son employed is one that is well 

 acquainted with his business ; and he has several helpers 

 on the rick, spreading out and treading the hay. In 

 beginning the rick, the state of the ground on which it 

 is to stand is first considered. In a high situation a 

 foundation of fagots is often laid, and is sufficient to 

 protect the hay from contact with the damp earth, 

 which would injure a considerable portion of the bottom 

 of the rick. But in low or damp situations a frame of 

 wood, with bearers for the support of the rick, must be 

 used instead. 



Hay-ricks are generally made of an oblong shape, on 

 account of the greater convenience of that form when 

 they come to be cut up into trusses. When well made, 

 the body of the rick swells gradually and equally out- 

 wards quite to the eaves, and is thus secured from mois- 

 ture, and also takes less room to stand upon than would 

 else be required. A rick of a middle size is better than 

 a very large or a very small one, because large ricks are 

 very liable to heat, and small ones have too much out- 

 side. From eighteen to twenty-five loads, of about a 

 ton each, is considered a good-sized rick. 



Every one knows how liable hay is to ferment and to 

 catch fire, if put together before it is perfectly dry. 

 Great caution is therefore necessary that it may be 

 secured in good order. Besides the danger of actually 

 taking fire, against which precautions might be used, 

 there is the danger of injuring the health of cattle, 

 especially horses, if they are allowed to feed on what is 

 called " mow-burnt hay ; " that is, hay which has under- 

 gone a high degree of fermentation, until it is of a dark 

 brown colour. If the weather be so unfavourable 

 during the hay harvest, that much of the crop is 

 damaged by the wet, it is an excellent plan to salt the 

 hay as it is stacked. This checks fermentation, and 

 prevents mouldiness, while it renders the hay much 

 more acceptable to cattle. Layers of straw are also 

 sometimes introduced among the salted hay, in order 



