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tliofe of corn, but they have fome degree of variety accord- 

 ing to circumftances, and the nature of the lituatiors in 

 which they are placed, as well as fome other caufes. The 

 moil ufeful forms are probably thofe of the fquare, long 

 fqiiare, oblong, and perfectly round kinds. There is a cu- 

 rious fort of low very bellying form, which relts on a very 

 imall bafis or lladdle at bottom, and which has an equally 

 low top, which is fometimes in ufc. This is fomewhat the 

 form or (hape of a fort of hay-ftack, which in Scotland, 

 and fome of the more northern Englirti diltricts, is often 

 denominated a hay-fow. 



In Hacks with hay of the artificial grafs kinds, as that of 

 clover, faintfoin, tares, and other fimilar forts, the Hacks 

 fiiould never be made fo large as in the cafe of natural grafs- 

 hay, as fuch forts of hay, in order to fecure them in the beft 

 manner, fliould never be fo much or fo well made as that of 

 the natural grafs knid, confequently never be put together 

 in (lacks in fuch large quantities, as there may often be 

 danger, inconvenience, and lols in fuch pratticee. 



In Hacks of the ftraw and Hubble kinds, very little more 

 is feldom necedary than merely the fecuring of the mate- 

 rials ; they need but rarely liave fo much labour and time 

 beHowed upon forming the top-parts of them, as is often 

 the cafe in corn and hay-ftacks, as the matters fcarcely ever 

 remain in them for any great length of time, bemg moHly 

 in a Hate of gradual removal for different ufes. 



It may be farther obferved, in refpecl to the fizes of 

 ftacks of the firH fort, that they of courfe vary greatly ac- 

 cording to circumHances ; but they (bould never be made 

 too large, as there is a great deal more labour and rifle in 

 fecuring and getting in the grain for them, than in thofe of 

 a fmaller lize ; and from their being built at different times, 

 they do not fettle altogether in fo equal and perfect a man- 

 ner, or refift the eifedts of the weather, and keep the grain 

 fo well, as thofe of lefs dimenfions, that can be completed 

 at once : and, in addition, they are more convenient in tlie 

 thrcfhing out, efpccially where the flail manner is employed. 

 The chief advantages they poffefs are thofe of taking fome- 

 thing lefs in thatch and labour in covering them, as has 

 been juH noticed. But, in common, from about twenty to 

 thirty-two horfe cart-loads may be fufficient for one Hack, 

 on all the middhng-fized farms in mofl of the grain diitrifts 

 of this kingdom. 



And in regard to the proper fize of the hay-ftack, it 

 (hould probably be diflcrent in fome degree, according to 

 the Hate and nature of the hay ; but a middling fize is per- 

 haps the beft, as from twenty to thirty loads of about one 

 ton each ; as there are inconveniencies in both fmall and 

 large Hacks, the former having too much outfide, while the 

 latter are liable to take on too much heat, and at the fame 

 time permit lefs moiHure to be prefcrved in the hay. In 

 fmall (tacks, the bellying forms, with very narrow bottoms, 

 have often much advantage, and are in fome didri'Ss termed 

 /heep-ftacks, probably from the (lovcnly practice of (Keep 

 havmg been permitted to feed at them. It is obferved by 

 Mr. Middleton, in hie Agricultural Survey of Middlefex, 

 that ttiere are no hay-Hacks more neatly formed nor better 

 fecured than thofe of that county. At every vacant time, 

 while the Hack is carrying up, the men are employed in 

 pulling it with their hands into a proper (hape ; and about 

 a week after it is finifhed, the whole roof is properly 

 thatched, and then fecured from receiving any damage from 

 the wind, by means of a Hraw-rope extending along the 

 eaves, up the ends, and near the ridge. The ends ot the 

 thatch are afterwards cut evenly below the eaves of the 

 flack, jufl of fufficient length for the rain-water to drip 

 quite clear of the hay. When the Hack happens to be 



placed in a fituation which may be fufpefted of being too 

 damp in the winter, a trencli of about fix or eight inches 

 deep is dug round, and nearly cloie to it, which ferves to 

 convey all the water from tlie (pot, and renders it perfeftly 

 dry and fecure. 



It may be noticed, that in Hacks of all kinds, proper 

 Hands or Haddlcs fhould conllantly be provided, being well 

 proportioned to the intended fize of the Hacks. Thofe for 

 grain fhould have copings placed lo as to prevent the en- 

 trance of vermin : but for hay there is no neceifity for this, 

 nor need they be raifed fo high, but be quite plumb and 

 upright. It is evident, that by the common method of 

 placing them upon the ground, on a little drift, or a few 

 pieces of wood laid acrois each other, there niuH conHantly 

 be great lofs in the bottom parts of the Hacks, from the 

 moiHure being abforbed by the hay, and it becoming in a 

 fuHy condition ; while by the ufe of Hands, this may be 

 almofl wholly avoided, and the cxpencc be but trifling, as 

 any old rough pieces of wood, or other materials, will 

 anfwcr the purpofe in a pretty perfetl manner, when other 

 better forts of ftaddles are not at hand, or to be procured. 

 See Staddle and Stand. 



All forts of Hacks (hould be carefully attended to, while 

 they are forming and getting up, and never be left for any 

 length of time, as is too frequently the cafe, without being 

 properly topped up ; as injury and lofs are always to be ap- 

 prehended wherever that is the cafe. Every kind of Hack 

 fhould iikewife conllantly be fuffered to have completely 

 fettled in all its different parts, before it be attempted to 

 be covered in ; as otherwile the covering may be deranged 

 and rendered unfightly, by the fhrinking that may after- 

 wards take place, and the matters be not rendered fo fecure 

 or fo well preferved. 



Stacks of the corn kind are fometimes conveniently placed 

 upon low frames of wood, and on low call-iron wheels, mov- 

 ing in circular iron railways, contrived in fuch a manner as 

 that three or four horfes may, in mod cafes, in moderate 

 fized ftacks, draw tliem to the barn or threfhing machine. 

 Placing them on thefe forts of contrivances is often of great 

 utility and advantage, in faving the expence of labour and 

 time in carting, or otherwile conveying them to fuch places ; 

 and is, befides, capable of being performed at any time, 

 without waiting for the coming of fine and favourable 

 weather for the purpofe. The expence in this way of 

 placing Hacks is very trifling, and will in a great meafure 

 prevent the ncceffity of having capped Hone ftandings lor 

 them. It is Iikewife a necedary and ufeful plan, in many 

 inHances, as being that alone which allows of a choice of 

 any particular Hack for threfliing, without waiting for the 

 whole or a great number of others being previoufly removed 

 or taken out of the way. In fome other cafes the placing 

 the ftacks in Hraight lines, leading by and pafl thefe places, 

 jnay anhver the fame intention, though in a much lefs per- 

 Tedt manner in different points. 



Stack, Huy-Soiu, a name given in fome places to that 

 low bowl-like bellying form of ft.ick, which has an equally- 

 low top, fecured by hay, or other fimilar kinds of ropes, 

 put on in fcmewhat the checquered form. It is chiefly in 

 ufe in fuch fituations as arc much cxpofed to winds and 

 Horms. 



Stack, Mew Ar'ijh or Erri/h, that particular fort of 

 Hack or mow which is made witli grain in the field, in fome 

 dillriftr, as Cornwall, in wet and catching harvelt fcafons. 

 The corn uliially remains in thefe Hackr. for a fortnight or 

 three weeki. And it is faid by the writer of tlic correAcd 

 account of the agriculture of the .ibovc county, that thefe 

 ariflt ftacks or mows, of which he has given a icprefont- 



ationf 



