The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-10
Stacking Grain and Hays

Chicago Tribune.
1t has been estimated that 20 per cent of tie
hay aud 10 per cent. of the grain standing OFT
over winter are lost from bad stacking Yd
any man who will use with Judgment may
make a stack that will not only shed water, but
stand up square after settling. All that is neces'
sary is that the pitching he done from all sides,
or, In the case of machine pitching delivered at
the center of the stack, and that the center OF
the stack be kept considerably higher than the
sides and we'll pressed down. Facility can only
be learned by practice. but this practice comes
Infinitely sooner under good instructor than Dy
experiment. and hence is we'll worth paying for.
In stacking hay the most common mistake is
made IN trampng the edges, leaving the center
to settle tor itself This is all wrong. Keep tina
center high and well tramped and the outside
will take care of itself. In spreading the fork
fuls next the outside see that it is thrown so the
ends of the cocks will be pointing to the outside,
thus making nice thatch which in settling will
carry the water outwards
Do not make the base much smaller than the
body of the stack until you have learned to carry
out the sides regularly and evenly But when
TINS has been learned you may make stack
perfect gg-shape, and it will stand as put
Alter the stack has settled IL is not bad plan,
unless the stacker is an expert, to go around the
bottom OF the stack and cut evenly all around.
Ior a night of ten feet, with sharp hay knife,
ana see that the thckest part Of the slice shall
oe at the bottom. This will save the lower part
or the stack and prevent freezing to the ground.
In drawing IN a stack, do so gradually, and the
faster you draw in the higher must the center
be kept. There is no danger OF the top sliding
off If evenly built Top off with the longest and
coarsest hay, holding all down with wire or hay
bands passing over the top and weighted at the
bottom below the bulge of the stack. The real
test of stacking is to build it that all the hay
or every bundle OF the grain shall point from the
center outward.
In stacking grain the stacker receives each
bundle as thrown by the pitcher, within reach
the stacker going around the stack regularly
latter the foundation is laid in a cone shape
commencing in the middlel, with one knee rest
ing. on the bundle last laid. Each bundle is laid
with def thrust so the butt will lock with the
under one, and until the full bulge is reached
slightly outside the under one Then, when of
sufficient hight, carry it up square for three or
four courses, and thereafter gradually draw it
until the whole is drawn to a point Now
thrust small, smooth pole down into the
stack so that not more than ten inches show and
forming large bundle of ail-thrashed rye straw
or long slough hay. place it over the pole, the
heads well down and smoothly the sides of
the stack and extending foot over the pole
Bind it securely to the pole and again at the top
above the pole, and the stack will be secure until
it is settled, when the whole must be again re-
arranged by forcing the pole down into the stack,
as before, and again tying. This pole need not
De more than two inches thick, nor more than
four feet long
Kicks are formed on the same principle as
round stacks, all the difference being that the
central elevation in the course of formation
should conform to the shape of the stack. what
ever that may be. What is worth doing at all is
worth doing well, and there is no reason why any
person having a fairly good mechanical eye
and the average man has that's should not
build stack or rick having the proper mechan-
cal proportions, that will settle evenly and stand
aione-at least after little careful observation
and practice have given him confidence in his
ability.