140 NATURAL GRASSES. 12. 



A fingular expedient is here pradtifed to 

 get it (as it is intended) out of harm's way. 

 This is to put it into " pikes," or flacklets 

 of about a load each before it be fit to be 

 put into flack ; and, too frequently, before 

 it be fit to be put into large cocks. This 

 is confidered as a middle flage ; in which it 

 is to take a partial heat, and become pre- 

 pared for the ftack. 



If hay be free from water-wet, but yet too 

 full of fap to be trufted in (lack, " piking" 

 it may have its life. But it is more gene- 

 rally made ufe of as a ilovenly expedient for 

 getting hay out of hand in a tedious feafon. 

 In this cafe, however, it is mofily mifchie- 

 yous. I have fecn thefe pikes, when opened 

 out to be carried to the flack, white with 

 mould, black with rottennefs, and of every 

 intermediate colour, excepting that which 

 alone is defirable. But this good old way 

 ftc-ns to be declining. 



In the beft pradice of the Diftricl:, the 



grai's, in fine weather, is tedded after the 



powers ; or, in Ihowery weather, as foon as 



y fair opportunity offers. In the evening, 



nicis due confidence can be placed in the 



