366 JUNE. 



directed before. That which was grass-cocked yes- 

 terday is to be shook into rows, so as not to occpuy 

 all the surface of the meadow ; in tw or three 

 hours raked into a row ; and in the evening put into 

 cocks of two or three hundred weight. 



Third Day. Break those cocks about eleven 

 o'clock, into a long bed ; between twelve and one 

 rake them into rows, and about three or four cock 

 them, each bed in a cock. In these cocks, which 

 will contain four or five hundred weight of hay, let 

 it remain till the whole field is done, and on the 

 cock. In the morning of the day you cart, open, 

 and give them an airing ; then put in cart, and 

 stack. All this on the supposition of fine weather. 



In this method there are three operations every 

 day, which are more essential in hot burning wea- 

 ther than in a wet season ; if the hay is moved only 

 twice in a clay, the same surface will be exposed six 

 or eight hours to the sun, which will damage it 

 almost as much as rain. The great object is to 

 move it so often that the sun shall not have power 

 to extract so much of the sap as to change entirely 

 the colour of the hay, upon which also depends its 

 scent and nourishment. There are many plants 

 gathered for their physical virtues, which would be 

 good for little if not dried under cover. The finest 

 green hay is made when there happens to be a dry 

 season with very little sun. The common farmers 

 are perfectly contented to let a burning sun shine 

 day after day on their hay, and think themselves 

 happy in carrying home hay with neither scent, 

 colour, sap, nor value. It is upou this account that I 



shake 



