FODDER IN INDIA. 39 



of a Stack the sum of these measurements must be multiplied 

 by the density per cubic foot in lbs., the total being 

 in lbs. 



There are other methods of measurement but the fore- 

 going will be found as simple as any with accuracy, so I 

 will only deal with one more which is useful when speed 

 is desirable : — 



(Mean length of base and eaves x mean width of base 

 and eaves) X Height from ground to eaves ; + (Mean 

 length of eaves and ridge X width at eaves) X Half- 

 height from eaves to ridge ; the sum of these by the 

 Density. 



Never measure your stack until it has stood at least 

 14 days, and a month for choice. 



It is not always possible, or allowable, to delay st'ack 

 measurements even 14 days, but obviously the sooner the 

 stack is measured after building, the sooner and greater the 

 variation in both measurements and density ; consequently 

 the longer you can reasonably defer your first measurements 

 the more reliable they are (i.e., the less the variation on 

 re-measurement). Government require stacks to be re- 

 measured every 3 months. On the other hand you have to 

 nieasure before you thatch, also there is the possibility of 

 losing the stack by fire before you have a record of its 

 contents. 



Thatching. — There is not much to be said, and whether 

 to thatch stacks at all unless they are to stand over the 

 monsoon is an open question ; the writer thinks it is best 

 done, but if you do it make "a good job" of it. The 

 stack must be measured before it is thatched, and if there is 

 no particular hurry another week or ten days settling down 

 is as well. Local custom is the best guide for a thatch, 

 get a professional thatcher and pay him fair for fair work, 

 the thatches must not be any less than 6" thick for ordinary 

 and 12" to stand over a monsoon ; in many places side and 

 end thatches will be necessary.. The Lahore system of 

 thatching is very economical and efficient. 



