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IV. — A Method of Preserving Corn- Stacks from Damage hy Rooks. 

 By the Rev. Thomas Burrougiies. 



It is a general practice in this part of the country to disperse 

 the corn-stacks about the fields, more particularly since the pre- 

 valence of incendiarism ; and it is doubtless most advantageous, 

 both on account of the expedition during harvest, and also on 

 account of a greater degree of dryness thus derived to the grain 

 than can be the case in a confined stackyard. But, on the other 

 hand, a new disadvantage is thus incurred : the thatch is ex- 

 tremely liable to be injured by rooks, more particularly in severe 

 weather, and no little amount of damage will often follow from 

 wet ; the rooks also continually pull out large quantities of grain 

 from the sides and from under the eaves of the stacks. The 

 usual protection against the mischief is a little boy, who is very 

 often employed to guard a single stack, though sometimes several, 

 if near together ; and where two or more boys are required, as is 

 often the case, for this purpose for many months together, the 

 expense becomes considerable ; and from their frequent neglect — 

 for " Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" — there is, after all, very 

 often much damage done. 



I have, therefore, been led to adopt, for the last few years, a 

 very simple, but certainly effectual plan, and which I see has 

 now become extensively imitated : hazel twigs, about four or 

 five feet long, are stuck round the stack, pointing at an angle 

 upwards, and at a distance of about four yards apart ; one row 

 a little below the eaves of the stack, and another about halfway 

 up the thatch, the upper twigs being placed in an intermediate 

 position between the lower ; lines of worsted or strong cotton 

 are then suspended from a small stick on the top of the stack to 

 the ends of these twigs, and cross-lines also between the two 

 rows, as well as lines along each row : the whole thus forming a 

 sort of loose net-work ; and at the cost of only Is. two or three 

 stacks may be thus fully protected. The net-work will last a 

 full year, if required so long, though parts of it may occasion- 

 ally require repair, as after very high winds ; and perhaps there 

 can be no greater proof of the efficacy of the plan, than the fact, 

 that if any part of the worsted has been much broken away, an 

 attack after a short time is sure to be commenced on that part of 

 the stack. 



Gazeleg, near Newmarket, 

 February 26, 1853. 



