HARVESTING. 151 



the butt. The work, however, is more easily done with the 

 small sheaves of a wet season than the ordinary size of a 

 dry one ; and whenever the top of the stock is too broad 

 or flat, lay on a small sheaf along the top, then over this 

 put the hood sheaves, taking care that the whole are stand- 

 ing right, so that the equilibrium of forces (gravitation) 

 shall give stability to the stook. 



" Success in putting on hoods depends greatly upon the 

 stooker comprehending his work in all its practical details. 

 The moment he sees the reason why the different manipu- 

 lations in the setting of the sheaves are necessary, and why 

 the whole are required to make the stook stand and the 

 hoods carry off a shower, the cause is gained, for then he 

 will soon learn to perform the work successfully. "We have 

 said that a hood sheaf should be bound near the butt-end. 

 It should also be so formed as to divide and open equally, 

 so as to spread around the end of the stook, on the same 

 principle that a Mackintosh waterproof is spread around a 

 man's shoulders to keep them dry. On opening the sheaf, 

 he will at once perceive that the interior forms an acute 

 angle, and that the end of the stock must fit this angle, so 

 as to make a workmanlike finish ; and, if he comprehends 

 this thoroughly, and the angle necessary to carry off the 

 rain over the end of the stook, he will not rest satisfied 

 until he puts on both hood sheaves, accordingly finishing 

 his work to the satisfaction of his employer, and more 

 easily for himself than otherwise." 



There are two modes of setting up stocks of corn in the 

 field generally used, the round and the longitudinal, and of 

 these two the longitudinal is the most used. It is easy to 

 see, however, that it. is not so good as the round mode. 

 Of the relative values of these two modes Mr. Hardy has 

 the following useful remarks : " To protect wheat-sheaves 

 best from wet and wind, I recommend that the stocks or 

 shocks be formed round- fashioned, which I find, by practi- 

 cal experience, will stand more firmly and erect, and will 

 keep the corn in preservation far better in fickle weather, 

 and even plumper when it is cut green, being more regu- 



