- Pg 8. The word 'is' has been changed to the word 'as' in line 2.
- Pg 8. The spelling of the word 'layed' has been retained.
A TREATISE
—ON—
GRAIN STACKING
GIVING
Instructions how to Properly Stack all
kinds of Grain, so as to preserve in
the best possible manner for
Threshing and Market.
BY
JOHN N. DeLAMATER.
NORWALK, O.:
The Norwalk Chronicle Print.
1884.
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1884,
By JOHN N. DeLAMATER,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.
PREFACE
So far as I am aware, this is an untried fieldof labor—a pioneer work which I have had underconsideration for the last fifteen years; duringwhich time the closest attention has been given todetails of building, and careful observations madeon results, when the stacks were being taken down.
JOHN N. DeLAMATER.
TREATISE ON GRAIN STACKING.
PLACING FOUNDATION.
If convenient, make a foundation of rails, byplacing three rails about four and one-half feetapart and parallel, and then add half or two thirdsthe length of a rail to each, and cover by layingrails crossways, and finish by laying a large railor post in the center lengthways.
This will form a foundation large enough for tenor twelve large loads. If rails, poles or boardscannot be had for an entire foundation, endeavor[Pg 6]to get something to support the heads of a few centersheaves; for if sheaves are set on end to commencea stack, the middle is apt to settle toomuch.
COMMENCING TO BUILD.
On the rail foundation, lay around the center inthe form of an ellipse, with the heads lapping wellacross the center rail; lap half and continue to laytowards the outside until foundation is covered.Now commence at the outside and lay a coursearound, neither laying out or drawing in, except tocorrect any little error that may occur in the ellipticalform of the stack; complete the courses tothe center, but don't fill the middle too full; if theoutside is lower than the middle, lay a doublecourse around outside; keep your stack flat—fullas high at outside as center; build the first loadstraight up, neither laying out or drawing in, ifthe stack is to contain ten or twelve loads; if eightor nine, lay the last course out a little.
LAYING OUT.
If the stack is flat and as near an ellipse as the[Pg 7]eye can judge, laying out and keeping the stackproperly balanced will be very easy. Drive alternateloads on opposite sides of the stack: this willhelp to keep the stack properly balanced. If theeye detects a place that seems to be lower thanthe general level, it will be found that it