116 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



steep enough to shoot off rain and snow, but it injures the upper 

 portion of the hay to go higher than is necessary to secure this 

 object. Eoughly stated, the top of the rick measured across 

 under the eaves should be about one and a half or two feet more 

 than from the eave to the ridge. This gives almost an equilateral 

 triangle. 



A set of rick-cloths cost money, but they are of great service 

 in protecting partially-made ricks when hay-carting is suddenly 

 interrupted by rain. They also make it easy to proceed with 

 several ricks simultaneously, and therefore the "grass can be 

 stacked in a more moist condition than when a rick has to be 

 hurried up and promptly thatched. Indeed, rick-cloths save all 

 anxiety about thatching, for the task can be deferred until after 

 the first rise of heat has been dissipated, and it is consequently 

 safe to put the roof on. 



The practice of making ventilating shafts in the centre of a 

 rick by pulling up a sackful of hay as the work proceeds need 

 only be resorted to in catching weather, when it is impossible to 

 put the hay together in first-rate order. No doubt the con- 

 trivance has prevented many ricks from firing, but it restricts the 

 partial fermentation which takes place in a solid stack, and this 

 is an important influence in the manufacture of a fragrant sample 

 of hay. A much better method of treating grass about the 

 dryness of which there is a doubt, is to place layers of dry 

 straw between thicker layers of hay. The straw will absorb the 

 excessive moisture, and with it many of the valuable juices of the 

 clovers, which will greatly enhance the feeding value. This pro- 

 cedure is not available for hay which is intended to be sold, but 

 it wiU make capital fodder for home consumption. 



' Weathered ' hay — that is, hay which has been repeatedly 

 soaked and dried until much of its value has been lost — ^will be 

 improved in quahty and made much more palatable to stock by 

 sprinkling coarse salt over the layers of the rick as the building 

 proceeds. From ten to twenty pounds of salt should be used 

 for each ton of hay. 



