684 Report on the Trials of Implements at Reading. 
comparison of the different readings will show that the heat was 
shifting, for while 'S. fell 136° to 119°, E. rose 136° to 142°, 
S.fell 130° to 90°, and W . fell 108° to 104°. Next day (27th) a 
slight rise took place, and the fan was worked one hour on the 
28th, just keeping things in statu quo. It will be seen that the 
object of the exhibitor was not to bring down the heat at once, 
but to moderate it, and keep it within certain limits. On the 
29th the temperature was again over 140°, and the fan was put 
on for one hour and a half, and after this the heat was never 
again so great ; however, on three other occasions, the fan was 
worked for a short time (see Table X., p. 711). 
This stack, when cut, showed the best hay which up to that 
time had been met with. One vein of mould marked where 
some hay had been got too soon after a shower. It must, how- 
ever, be borne in mind that, with the exception of this small 
quantity, the hay was in good condition when stacked, and 
though it was certainly green, the nature of the grass was such 
that a very little more weather on it would have taken all the 
goodness out of it. The powerlessness of the fan to dry wet 
hay effectually was significantly shown by the streak of mould 
which showed the only bit of hay got in damp condition. 
Plot XIV. — Agricultural and Horticultural Asso- 
ciation. 3rd Stack. Hand-power Fan.* 
This was one of the fans which had not yet been used. 
About 6 acres of a good crop of good hay was assigned to it. 
The grass was mown on the 19th of July, and early in the 
morning of the 20th it was shaken out. The weather was hot 
and brightly sunny, and a very drying wind was blowing; the 
greater part of the hay was stacked on the same day, and what 
was left in the field was put into cock in very dry condition. 
It was, however, so green that the Judges thought the stack must 
heat, and the occupier of the land declared that he dared not on 
any account have stacked the hay so early ; but, contrary to ex- 
pectation, it never did get really warm. The grass having been 
left until rather old, no doubt diminished the liability to heating ; 
and of course the stack was a much smaller one than the farmer 
would have made ; but it is rather difhcult to understand why it 
remained so cool. The stack on the next two plots, which was 
not secured in such thoroughly dry condition, got hot soon. 
But the experience of this stack shows how important it is to 
have hay dry, and that it matters little how green the stuff is if 
only it be thoroughly crisp and dry. It was not until the 27th, 
a week after stacking, that the temperature had risen above 
120°. On that day the fan was worked for one hour. The 
* Tlie two preliminary Trials, on Plots 7 and 8, were abandoned, as explained 
on p. C78. 
