526 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1899. 
BUILDING STACKS. 
In December, 1898, we drew attention in.the Journal to the necessity for 
properly stacking wheat to preserve the stack from mildew by dampness from 
the ground, and to prevent the rotting of the upper portion by the entrance of 
rain water owing to imperfect thatching or to no thatching at all. Here is a 
lesson which we cull from the Farmer and Stock Breeder :— 
Several little matters in connection with the stackyard are often overlooked 
when once harvest is finished, and work presses in other directions. In 
themselves, and taken separately, they are often of no great apparent importance, 
but, nevertheless, likely to cause considerable damage if left unattended to, and 
which may generally be prevented with very little trouble. For instance, stacks 
may have been thatched almost as soon as put up, and the roof afterwards 
sunk, so as to form hollows in places. Such hollows do not readily allow the 
thatch to convey the water off the roof, but cause it to collect and soak through 
to the corn, and in a heavy or continuous downpour the damage is likely to be 
extensive and far-reaching into the body of the stack. ‘The pitch-hole, partieu- 
larly when loose corn is stacked, is very liable to sink in this manner. But 
wherever it happens, prompt steps should be taken to remedy the possible source 
of evil. This may be done by removing the thatch where necessary, and packing 
up the hollow, and afterwards re-thatching, or, better still, by placing another 
coating over the old thatch, so'that no hollow is left. : 
Also the stack, although perfectly upright when built and thatched, may 
afterwards go over to one side and cause the water from the roof to run down 
the wall. This will naturally be the case the opposite side to which the stack is 
leaning, and cause the butt ends of the sheaves there to be higher than the corn 
ends, so that the water falling on them is conveyed inside the stack, where it 
must cause an enormous amount of harm. If the eaves cannot be made to 
project wide enough to shoot the water clear, a false eave should be fixed to 
the wall at the necessary height, so that this is accomplished. 
In some instances rough thatching is done in faved time, Just to cover 
the stack for the time being, and better work intended at a more convenient 
time, but delayed too long or overlooked. After all the trouble of growing the 
corn and harvesting it, it certainly seems a great pity considerable damage 
should be allowed to happen when easily preventible. Weak eaves are often 
another source of harm, and generally result where a single stelch is used in 
that position; they often allow the water to trickle through them and down the 
walls. A firm eave given by a properly placed double stelch will shoot the water 
clear of the walls. 
In a badly placed stackyard water often escapes very slowly, and after a 
heavy rain accumulates, and, finding no outlet, gets under the stacks and ig 
sucked up, causing some considerable portion of both straw and corn to be 
spoilt near the bottom. This danger is further increased by heaps of rubbish 
or parings being left lying about against the stacks, as they help to block up 
the water. When harvest is finished it is alvays a good plan to clean up the 
stackyard and see that outlets are provided by which its water may escape. 
HISTORY OF THE ANGORA GOAT. 
THE Angora goat is a native of Asia Minor, and up to 1880 it was possible to 
purchase them in that country, but the Turks and Armenians became envious of 
the great advancement made in South Africa, and prevailed upon the Sultan to 
prohibit the exportation of any more goats. We are indebted to the enterprise 
of a few progressive Americans for those that were brought into the United 
States, and although the entire number aggregates Jess than 100 head, they have 
been sufficient to demonstraté the entire feasibility of brecding them in all 
sections of our country, and it is believed by many that our climate is capable 
of producing a class of mohair superior to either Turkey or South Africa. The 
