STACK. 



than the sides, and the sides and ends 

 well bound in by the proper applica- 

 tion of the successive portions of hay 

 as the work advances, and during 

 which it is a good way, where there 

 are plenty of hands, to have the sides 

 and ends properly pulled into form, 

 as by this means much after labour is 

 prevented. It is likewise of advan- 

 tage that the hay should be well sha- 

 ken and broken from the lumps du- 

 ring the operation of stacking. The 

 form in which the stacks are built is 

 not of much consequence ; but if 

 large, and made in the square form, 

 it is better not to have them too broad, 

 or of too great width, as by this 

 means they are less apt to heat. 

 With the intention of preventing too 

 much heat, sometimes in building hay 

 stacks, as well as those of the grain 

 kind, holes, pipes, and chimneys are 

 left in the middle, that the excessive 

 heat may be discharged ; but there is 

 often injury sustained by them, from 

 their attracting too much moisture. 



" The hay stacks of Middlesex, 

 England, are more neatly formed and 

 better secured than anywhere else. 

 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 secured 

 from receiving any damage from the 

 wind, by means of a straw rope ex- 

 tending along the eaves, up the ends, 

 and near the ridge. The ends of the 

 thatch are afterward cut evenly be- 

 low the eaves of the stack, just of 

 sufficient length for the rain water to 

 drip quite clear off 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, and nearly close to it, 

 which serves to convey all the water 

 from the spot, and renders it perfect- 

 ly dry and secure. 



" The stack guard {Fig. 3), or cov- 



ering of canvass, is employed in some 

 districts to protect the stack while 

 building in a wet season. The worn 

 sails of ships are sometimes made 

 use of for this purpose, though, in 

 most parts, a covering of loose straw 

 or hay is found sufficient in ordinary- 

 cases ; but where, from a continued 

 rain, the stack is penetrated some 

 wav down, a part is removed on re- 

 coriimenciiig, and dried before being 

 replaced, it is observed by Marshal, 

 that a sail cloth, thrown over and im- 



mediately upon the hay of a stack in 

 full heat, is liable to do more injury 

 by increasing the heat, and, at the 

 same time, checking the ascent of the 

 steam, than service in shooting off 

 rain water. The improved method 

 of spreading the cloth he describes as 

 follows : two tall poles (a, a) are in- 

 serted firmly in two cart wheels (i, b), 

 which are laid flat upon the ground at 

 each end of the stack, and loaded 

 with stones to increase their stability. 

 Another pole of the same kind, and 



753 



