Protecting Sheaves of Wheat from Rain. 119 



who apparently had some pretensions to good 

 farming. 



The wheat harvest was begun. The method 

 of placing the sheaves in the field to protect 

 them from rain, and prevent their being blown 

 down, was not less deserving observation than 

 it may hereafter be found worthy of imitation. 

 The practice is called stooking, and is per- 

 formed in the following manner -.Each stook 

 consists of twenty-four sheaves, twelve of which 

 are placed length-ways, with eight crqssing 

 them in the middle, at right angles, while the 

 remaining four are so placed as completely to 

 cover the other twenty. It is scarcely possible 

 that wheat-sheaves thus disposed can be blown 

 down ; a stook, or shock, of this construction 

 would certainly prevent much loss and vexa- 

 tion, which is often experienced from such 

 accidents. 



a***X*iid* oifilnoD ^cJiudj/a-'aii hns teiftka 

 As we came near to Belfast we found the road 



much thronged. It was the market-day ; and 

 the orderly decent appearance, without the least 

 symptom of intoxication or rudeness in the 

 people, was not less creditable to the multitude 

 than complimentary to the police of $e neigh- 

 hood. 



