A PERMANENT STRUCTURE. 349 



by, it would greatly improve them to plunge them 

 into a vat for two or three days. This would thicken 

 up the cloth an inch or two, and make it more durable, 

 as well as much more effectual. A decoction of bark, 

 with alum, or some other astringent, would probably 

 answer equally as well ; but this is not necessary ', to 

 make an excellent hay-cover. Like a cotton umbrella, 

 the first dash of a heavy shower would cause it to 

 spatter through for a moment, but would do little or no 

 harm. I doubt whether a larger size than forty-five 

 inches square, or forty-five by fifty, would be desirable. 

 Mine have been not much over thirty-six inches 

 square." 



Another farmer says : " I have never used them 

 myself, but they are used in the neighborhood to good 

 advantage. A neighbor of mine, who has used them 

 for three years, says they have been worth to him this 

 year the whole cost, as with them he has been able to 

 get all his hay in in good order, while a large quantity, 

 where they were not used, was made nearly worthless 

 by the long-continued wet weather." 



A permanent structure for covering and protecting 

 hay-stacks is described by a farmer, in answer to the 

 question proposed in the circular, as follows : " I have 

 a structure called a hay-cap, which, if farmers have not 

 sufficient barn-room, I think would be economical, as hay 

 can be more rapidly secured than in the common stack, 

 and it obviates the necessity of fencing, and prevents the 

 hay from being wet while the stack is open for feeding. 

 This cap is twelve feet square, and consists of two sills, 

 fourteen feet in length and eight inches square, four 

 posts, five inches square and seventeen feet long, 

 framed into the sills one foot from the end of the same. 

 The sills are held together by two girts, framed into the 

 post just above the sill. The posts are held firmly by 

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