The Delta independent., 1913-08-22
Building a Grain Stack.
(By H. D. Compton.)

tBy ii. u. COmpUOn.J
When straw is valuable 1t will pay
to make stack bottm, but in this dry
country it is not entirely necessary.
Begin the stack the same as shock
and go round and round until it is as
big as desired. l make mine twelve
to fourteen feet across. / also build
stacks instead of ricks as less grain is
exposed to the weather and they stand
the storms better as well as being
easier to make. After finishing the
stack bottom step up on it with four
tined fork and proceed to lay the out
side course and the second course at
the same time, walking on the heads
of the second course only. By doing
this you will have after little prac-
tice, a nice bulge extending up six
or seven feet, according to the height
of the stack. The bulge should not ex-
tend out much over the length of a
bundle of grain Be particular to lay
the long ends of the butts of the sec
ond course down or the stack will
slip out, especially if it is dry Turkey
wheat. Soft wheat and oats are not
nearly so likely to slip.
While building up to the height of
the middle much higher than the out
side of the stack and the bulge will
make the bundles turn down, but be-
fore beginning to draw in, which is
done by turning the long ends of the
bundles, be sure go get the middle
full enough so the bundles will slope a
little to the outside insteand of in tow
ard the center. However, If you do
as / have said and stack flat it will
not spoil much because by keeping off
the outside of the stack and giving it
good bulge the bundles will slant
down of their own weight.
On every course l lay only one bum
die at a time. stepping on every bun
die for the purpose of keeping the mid
die as solid as possible. Always keep
the stack nice and even. BY standing
in the stack one can notice in an in
slant If one side is lower than the
other; if so, it is proof positive that
the bundles are laid closer in some
places than in others, or that you
have drawn in faster in some places
than in others. This must be watched
closely and corrected at once. The
critical place in stacking is at the
bulge. Therefore be careful and do
not draw in too fast the first two or
fhroa hot
draw in quite fast If you like. When
am at the bulge. of the stack lay
the second and third courses out far
enough to make the outside course
slant down little after which / only
catch the heads of the outside course
with the butts of the second layer and
lay the third course to the middle of
the second and so on to the center of
the stack. In other words simply
build pile of grain and shingle it,
so to speak, with the outside course.
1t is impossible to tell exactly how
to place the bundles. This a man
Will have to learn by experience. Long
small bundles are easier to stack while
large, short ones will give trouble. If
you find the stack is getting too steep
do not lay the inside bundles out so
far. If not steep enough lay them out
little farther. Always break joints
in stacking, which is easier to do than
when building a rick / mean by this
do not lay one bundle squarely on top
OF the other and make three or four
cracks in row; If you do it will let
the water in at these places. When
the stack is topped out-and do not
make them too sharp any more-place
a stout stick, not less than five feet
long, in the center of the stack and
hang four rocks. two each way, as low
as the bulge Of the stack. was
taught to rake stacks, but where they
are stacked right it is not necessary
as / am convinced that If farmers
knew how much better, easier and
quicker It is to stack with a fork in
stead of on their knees ten men would
stack their grain where there is one
now.