THE WHEAT CULTUEIST. 



399 



course about even with the bands of the course un- 

 der it, and thrusting the butts of each bundle, as jou 

 lay it, into the bundle under it, to prevent its slipping 

 outward by pressure. Go round with a single course, 

 keeping your work before you and pressing down the 

 bundles with your knees. Then lay another course in 

 the same manner, lapping at the same place, and so on 

 till you get to the centre. Then commence again at the 

 outside, leavino; the butts of the first course even with 

 those of the lower course, or projecting a little over, 

 being careful as before to catch the butts of the new 

 course into the lower one, and work inward as before. 

 The outside should be as little pressed as convenient, 

 in building, and the inside packed as close as possible, 

 so that the pitch of the bundles outward will be in- 

 creased rather than diminished as the stack settles. If 

 the heads of the bundles do not keep up the pitch of 

 the sheaves equal ' to that of an ordinary roof, when 

 above the bilge of the stack, put in extra sheaves, in any 

 way which will keep the surface regular in form. 



" The butts of each outside course should project a little 

 over the course below it until you are ready to draw in, 

 so that the stack, when done, will have the shape of a 

 hen's egg, a little flattened at the large end. A little 

 marsh hay makes a good cap, which should be secui*ed 

 against the winds by ropes made of the same, placed 

 over the top and held by weights at the sides. When 

 you see a man build a stack in this way, you may know 

 he understands his business ; but do not imagine you 

 can do it yourself at the first or second trial." I have 

 given these rather tautological directions, in the stacker's 

 own language, that beginners may understand them the 

 better. 



