A Revised and Illustrated Treatise On Grain Stacking   By: John N. DeLamater

GIVING

Instructions how to Properly Stack Bound Grain so as to Preserve, in the best possible manner, for THRESHING and MARKET.

ILLUSTRATED

So as to Furnish a Comprehensive View of the Theoretical Parts

BY JOHN N. DeLAMATER, NORWALK, OHIO 1884.

Copyright 1884 by

JOHN N. DeLAMATER,

All Rights Reserved.

THE NORWALK CHRONICLE PRINT.

PREFACE.

So far as I am aware, this is an untried field of labor a work which I have had under consideration for the last fifteen years; during which time the closest attention has been given to details of building, and careful observations made on results, when the stacks were being taken down. JOHN N. DeLAMATER.

TREATISE ON GRAIN STACKING.

PLACING FOUNDATION.

If convenient, make a foundation of rails, by placing three rails about four and one half feet apart and parallel, and then add half or two thirds the length of a rail to each, and cover by laying rails crossways, and finish by laying a large rail or post in the center lengthways.

This will form a foundation large enough for ten or twelve large loads. If rails, poles or boards cannot be had for an entire foundation, endeavor to get something to support the heads of a few center sheaves; for if sheaves are set on end to commence a stack, the middle is apt to settle too much.

COMMENCING TO BUILD.

On the rail foundation, lay around the center in the form of an ellipse, with the heads lapping well across the center rail; lap half and continue to lay towards the outside until foundation is covered. Now commence at the outside and lay a course around, neither laying out or drawing in, except to correct any little error that may occur in the elliptical form of the stack; complete the courses to the center, but don't fill the middle too full; if the outside is lower than the middle, lay a double course around outside; keep your stack flat full as high at outside as center; build the first load straight up, neither laying out or drawing in, if the stack is to contain ten or twelve loads; if eight or nine, lay the last course out a little.

LAYING OUT.

If the stack is flat and as near an ellipse as the eye can judge, laying out and keeping the stack properly balanced will be very easy. Drive alternate loads on opposite sides of the stack; this will help to keep the stack properly balanced. If the eye detects a place that seems to be lower than the general level, it will be found that it was caused by laying out more there than at other points; to remedy this defect, draw in the next outside course at the low point, six, eight or ten inches, according to the depression. The greater the depression, the more it should be drawn in, and the next inside course at the low point should be shoved out nearly to the buts of the outside course, then continue to build as though nothing had happened. If a high place should be observed, the next outside course should be laid farther out, and inside course at this point drawn well in.

Glance frequently over the stack and see if the outside presents the appearance of an ellipse, and keep a sharp lookout for high and low spots, for they will throw the stack out of balance. If the middle is too full, the outside will slip out, and an undesirable job of propping will begin. Put in two thirds of what is intended for the stack before commencing to draw in.