First, let me make sure I know the basics. An mdi-x port means crossed in the switch. So an MDI-X to a Mdi-x would need a crossover cable. Generally, then mdi-x goes to a station. Mdi, which means the same as an uplink, does not cross internally so two switches  may be cascaded together using a straight cable. When I read the text, I saw that port 8 could do either. IE it could go to a station or it could go to another mdi uplink port on another switch. It is the figures on pp.12 that are confusing me. If cascading carries the same concept as daisy chaining then I am befuddled as to what the 9th port does(labeled on switch as"to hub." Ideally, it would be nice to be able to use that 9th port as, because I have 8 stations in each row, I lose ports in the next row to feed the first each time I connect to a subsequent row. Figure 5 shows that 9th  port crossing over to port 7 on the lower pictured switch which is immutably mdi-x with a straight cable.
     So if I start with my gigabit desk 8 port that has the auto mdi-mdi-x on all ports, I could run a straight cable to the top pictured switch to its port 8. Then using that 9th port I would use a straight cable to go to port 7 on the lower switch? That is where I get lost. I guess it is because I could not find in the manual a definition of what that 9th port labled  "to hub" is. The only clue  I see is in the pp 13 diagram that shows that port 9"to hub" going to the corporate backbone. That is where my understanding is stuck.

You know I must be getting a little better at this because I guessed that might be the case but didn't want to sound stupid so I didn't write it out in my last post. Basically, then, there is really not a port 9 at all but rather two port 8/s: one mdi-x and one mdi. So since my first switch is auto sensing would it not make sense to run a straight cable to the mdi-x port 8 on the first fs708. Then connect the two fs708/s by going from the mdi "to hub" port to port 7 with a straight cable. Then use the mdi-x port 8 to the generic nway with a straight cable.   I think that verbal description matches their diagram. Then if  can find my receipts and the nway turns out not to be auto mdi-x and mdi, I would use crossover cables from there on out.