STACKING. 



bale or bottom parts of them, the top parts uniting, or com- 

 ing as clofely a<; poffible into contad with each other. By 

 this mode of proceeding, a fort of fquare inchning pile is 

 formed, v/hile fufficient openinc;s or fpaces are produced 

 below and between them, for contributing to render the 

 poles dry, as well a? afterwards for preferving them, as 

 much as poflible, in that condition, and at the fame time for 

 lettimr the wind pafs among th^-m more freely, by which the 

 danger of their being thrown down or overturned is confi- 

 dcrably led'ened, as m the cafe of ftaAs of the conical or 

 circular form. In conftruaing this, as well as the other 

 form of thefe ftacks, a few poles are firll weU fi.^;ed up, 

 faltened and fecured at the top parts, and then fet out in a 

 firm fpreading-out manner at the bottoms, fo as that the 

 proper quantity of poles may afterwards bs regularly and 

 gradually laid to them and conftitute the ftack. 



The means of rendering the parts of hop-poles which are 

 fet into and come in immediate contaft with the mould or 

 foil lefs liable to decay and deftrudlion than they are in the 

 ordinary mode, is a matter of much confequence to thofe 

 engaged in the cultivation of hops. The following procefs 

 has been recommended by Mr. Vancouver, in the Correfted 

 Account of the Agriculture of the County of Etfex. Tak- 

 ing into full and due confideration, it is faid, the very im- 

 portant benefits which are derived from coal-tar, in prevent- 

 ing the depredations of marine infefts on plank and timber, 

 it very naturally occurs, that a preparation of the fame fub- 

 flance, judicioufly applied, might not only produce a fimilar 

 efteiSl on and againlt infefts in the ground, but, by its gra- 

 dual and regular folution there, become matter of food for 

 the nourifhment of plants ; and that this leads to a very im- 

 portant confideration, as that of how far the application 

 of the fame material mav become ferviceable, by prolong- 

 ing the durability of polts fet into the ground, and in the 

 like manner for the prefervation of the parts of hop-poles 

 •which are put into the earth, to which particular point, it 

 is ilated as the fubltance of a converfation on the fubjeft 

 with the earl of Dundonald, who has taken a great lead and 

 interclt in the invention, manufafturc, and introduftion of 

 coal-tar into more general ufe, that he recommends the me- 

 thod of preparing the hop-poles with it, which is given 

 below, to all hop planters. 



The parts of the ends of the liop-poles which are intended 

 to be fet or inferted into the ground or foil, fhould firll be 

 flripped of their bark for the length of about thirty inches. 

 The poles Ihould then be pointed, and fcorched or burnt, 

 until the furface of them, from which the bark has been 

 removed, becomes black, and in fome fort charred. The 

 ufual or cnftomary depth to which poles are fet and fixed in 

 the ground, will moltlv regulate with exaftnefs how much 

 of the pointed ends of the poles fhould be treated in the 

 above manner. The burnt end of the pole, while hot, 

 fhould be dipped into thin coal-tar, which fliould previoufly 

 be made a little warm, in order that the wood may abforb 

 and take up as much of it as poffible. There may perhaps. 

 It is fnppoftd, be an advantage in dipping or putting the 

 pole the whole fpace of the thirty inches which is dripped 

 of the bark, as by that means twelve inches of what is co- 

 vered and laid over with coal-tar may be above the furface 

 of the ground. 



After the paying or coating of the poles with the tar has 

 been completed, they are to be put up or Hacked with their 

 pointed and tarred ends upwards, until they become perfeftly 

 and quite fufficiently dry ; after which they are to be dipped 

 in coal-pitch made boiling hot, and then fet up again in the 

 fame manner, to remain in that ftate until the time when they 

 are wanted for ufe, In cafes where the poles are liable to 

 I4t 



injury at the upper or fmaller ends, dipping them in the 

 coal-tar might alfo, it is fuppofed, probably be of ufe in 

 preventing the feparation of the bark, or the harbouring of 

 infefts. 



It is of very material confequence that the coating or 

 tarring of the poles be performed at fuch a diftance of time 

 before they are wanted for ufe, as to allow of the whole 

 covering becoming perfectly firm, ha:"d, and dry. And 

 likewife that the poles, before they are begun to be coated 

 over with the tar, be in a quite dry condition, as they take 

 up a much greater quantity of tar wlien in thic- fituation, 

 than when much loaded with nioiilure, as is too often the 

 cafe. 



The praftice of burning or charring the bottom ends of 

 hop-poles has alio been found highly beneficial in preferving 

 them from decay without the application of either the coal- 

 tar or pitch, in many cafes and fituations, as well as fome 

 other methods. See Hop. 



It is always proper to have the poles piled up in proper 

 parcels to<rether, or fet upright againlt fome fort of fup- 

 port in the hop-grounds, while they have the binds about 

 them, until they can be difengaged from them, as well as 

 afterwards, until thi;y can be flaked or pointed, prepared in 

 the above manner, and fet up into Hacks, inftead of having 

 them diiperfed all over the ground in a flac manner, as 

 is the too ulual cuflom, as by fuch means they will be- 

 come readily more dry, be a great deal more free from in- 

 jury, and at the fame time be rendered more fit for receiving 

 the preparation. 



And in extenfive plantations, it might probably be the 

 fafell, cheapeft, and mo!t convenient way, to have open 

 coarfe fheds with fecure clieap roofs built for receiving and 

 preferving them in, they being piled up in them upon low 

 frames or llools witii long arms or branches for keeping them 

 up. In this manner they would in all probability be more 

 readily, more perfeftly, more conveniently, and more advan- 

 tageoufly fecured tiian in any other way ; 2nd thereby a 

 great faviiig of poles moft likely be produced. 



Stacking of Strain and Slubblc. Straw is often Hacked 

 up when bound in truffes, as well as when in the loofe Itate. 

 In the former mode, the different bundles (hould be Hacked 

 in as ftraight a manner as poffible, in order to be kept 

 for fale or other particular ufes. In the latter Hale the 

 Hacks fhould be well pulled while they are forming, in order 

 that they may be dole and compaft. In building the top 

 parts of Hack-- of thi'= natu/e, they need not be carried to 

 any great height, but bs fo formed as to fhoot off the water 

 in a perfect manner. 



SiTACKiKd-Bantis, or Belts, the ropes or bands ufed in 

 thatching Hacks of different kinds, whether of the Hraw, 

 hay, or other forts. 



STACKiNG-iS'/rt_fi-, the fcaffold or platform employed in 

 building ttacks of corn, hay, and many other forts of farm 

 produce. 



Stages of thefe kinds are conHrutted in different ways, 

 fome being fixed together in a fort of frame, fo as to be fet 

 up againlt the Hack, and fuited to the height of pitching 

 by a moveable Ifage. Lately this fort of ftage has been 

 confiderably improved, bv being fo contrived as to be ca- 

 pable of being readily taken in pieces and laid by. It is the 

 contrivance of a gentleman in the county of Suffolk, and 

 defcribed in the Agricultural Survey of that diHrift. It 

 confilts of two parts, one of which is a frame eight feet 

 wide, made of two fir-balks twenty-two feet long, braced 

 together in a parallel pofition, and liavmg feveral holes 

 bored in them, about fourteen feet from the ground, for the 

 reception of the hinges of the Hage ; and a hook in each 



of 



