164 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. VII, 



tion or slope to carry off the rain. . The root- 

 ends of the covering sheaves, meeting at the top 

 and middle of the stock, ought also to be open- 

 ed and spread a little with the hand, and then 

 pushed close together ; by which means, being 

 entangled with one another, they will more ef- 

 fectually shut cut the rain, and acquire a greater 

 firmness for resisting the blast. The corn knots 

 are, in this county, generally turned to the out- 

 side of the stook. But this is a bad practice, 

 because, in wet weather, they are apt to spring, 

 and the corn, in consequence, must be lost. That 

 the stocks may be in the least possible danger 

 of being overturned by the winds, they ought 

 to be built in the direction of north-east and 

 south-west, because the strongest winds usually 

 blow from the south-west. 



Some practise the method of hutting^ that is, 

 setting up the corn in single sheaves, with the 

 band fixed near the top, and the root end open- 

 ed and spread out in a circular form. When 

 oats are grassy, or full of weeds, this must be a 

 good plan. Should the weather be fair, with a 

 brisk wind, it will dry more, this way, in two 

 days, than, when stocked, in six. Or, should it 

 happen to get rain, whilst in this position, a 

 day's drought will dry it again. When half 

 dried, it can be put up in hand ricks consisting 

 of from 6 to 10 stocks each, in such a manner 

 as to complete the winning, to secure it from 

 any material damage from the weather, and to 

 put it in the farmer's power to wait the oppor- 

 tunity of bringing it to the barn-yard, without 

 danger, and in good condition. In bad wea- 

 ther, and when the grain is at a great distance 



