362 JUNE. 



into cock the same day, or before rain. In showery 

 and uncertain weather, the grass may sometimes 

 be suffered to lie three, four, or even five days in 

 swath. But before it has lain long enough for the 

 under side of the suath to become yellow (which, 

 if suffered to lie long, would be the case , parti- 

 cular care should be taken to turn the swaths with 

 the heads of the rakes. In this state it will cure 

 so much in about two days, as only to require be- 

 ing tedded a few hours, when the weather is fine, 

 previous to its being put together and carried. In 

 this manner hay may be made and stacked at a 

 small expence, and of a good colour, but the tops 

 and bottoms of the grass are insufficiently separated 

 by it. 



There are no hay-stacks more neatly formed, nor 

 better secured, than those of Middlesex. 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 se- 

 cured from receiving any damage from the wind, 

 by means of a straw rope extended 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 of 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, 



