Of Harvest iny . 355 



dry into one of these wind, or arish mows, as they are called. 

 Each stack contains 180 sheaves, and there are generally 

 three to an acre. Mr Curwen was accustomed to stack his 

 corn in the field, regard being had to future convenience in 

 its removal afterwards ( I9i ). 



When corn is sufficiently dry, it is carried ( I93 ), either into 

 a barn, or stacked in a yard adjoining to the farm-offices. 

 The latter plan is preferable on various accounts. 1. The 

 grain and straw, if put into a barn, must be much drier than 

 is necessary for the largest ricks, and consequently, must be 

 longer exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather. 2. In 

 barns, the grain is peculiarly liable to the depredations of 

 vermin. 3. Corn in the straw, keeps much better in the 

 open air, than in close barns. 4. The expense of construct- 

 ing, and keeping these buildings in repair, is very consider- 

 able. Few operations at the same time, require to be more 

 scrupulously attended to, than the erecting of corn-stacks, 

 which should not only be substantially done, so as to se- 

 cure the crop effectually, but neatly executed ( I94 ). 



The old practice, of stacking corn on the ground, in the 

 yard, even though bottomed with loose dry straw, was not 

 a little exceptionable ; part of the grain being apt to imbibe 

 moisture, and the whole liable to the depredations of ver- 

 min. It was much improved upon by Mr Coke, who 

 laid clay at the bottom, six or more inches thick, and pre- 

 vented vermin from entering the stacks by placing a coat 

 of mortar round the bottom of each. But now, it is found, 

 that corn may be preserved in the open air, either in corn- 

 stands built of stone or brick ( I95 ), or upon pillars made of 

 stone or cast-iron, without receiving the slightest damage. 

 Where cast-iron is accessible, that material is to be pre- 

 ferred, as no vermin can get up so slippery a surface. Seven, 

 or nine pillars of cast-iron, are sufficient for a common- 

 sized round stack, the expense of which, will not exceed from 

 forty to sixty shillings, according to the price of iron( I9<s ). 

 The frame of coarse wood, on which the corn is laid, usually 

 costs from eight or ten, to thirty or forty shillings more. 

 The whole amount is often repaid by the saving of the first 

 year. Unfortunately however, the greatest precautions are 

 often taken in vain. Inconsiderate persons will set ladders 

 and other articles against the stacks, and render useless all 

 the precautionary measures that have been adopted. 



There is a practice in Scotland, of using what is called 

 bosses, which, when joined to cast-iron pillars, has brought 



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