The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-03
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN HAY

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN HAY.
There are doubtless many farmers
who have experienced sudden and de-
structive conhagrations in their hay
lofts, which could not be ascribed to any
exterior agency Barns have been
known to burst into flames, almost with
out warning, save perhaps significant
odor, for few days previously, around
the places where the hay was stored
and Summers harvest is swept away
in as many minutes as it has taken
DAYS to gather it, These unexpected
conhagrations are generally accredited
to tramps who have made the hay loft
their sleeping resort, but it is now as
serted that such calamities are frequent
ly due to the spontaneous combustion
of the hay, a circumstance theoretically
quite possible, but rarely considered.
Able Moigno. in LES MoNDEs, gives
the following as the theory of the phe-
nomenon: Hay, when piled damp and
in too large masses, ferments and turns
dark In decomposing, sufficient heat
is developed to be insupportable when
the hand is thrust into the mass, and
vapors begin to be emitted. When the
water is almost entirely evaporated, the
decomposition continues, and the hay
becomes carbonized little by little; and
then the charred portion, like peat peat
cipders mixed with charcoal, sulphur
Gus pyrites and Ignite, etc, becomes a
kind of pyrophorus, by virtue of it's
great porosty and of the large quantity
of matter exposed to high oxidation.
Under the influence of air in large
amount, this charcoal becomes concen-
trated on the surface to such degree
that the mass reaches a temperature
which results in its bursting into flames.
The preventives for this danger are
care that the hay in the lofts is kept
perfectly dry, that it is we'll packed, and
that it is stored in small heaps rather
than in large masses.
PROTECTING SHEEP FROM Docs
The bugaboo which frightens so many
of our farmers from keeping sheep is
summarily disposed of by Virginian
farmer, in letter to the AGRIcULTURIsT,
which we quote from. We know from
personal experience that this is an
effectual protection against dogs, hay
ing followed a similar practice, when in
the farming business, for several years,
in protecting sheep from the deprada-
tions of dogs, and with entire success
There is very little trouble attending it,
as the sheep soon become accustomed
to coming up to their enclosure in the
evening:
1--WE have a flock of over 800, and
should be very glad to add to that num-
Der at So per head for fair stock. Our
land is well adapted to sheep raising,
and our short Winters enable us to
send our early lambs TO market at least
three weeks ahead of New York State.
The majority of our farmers let their
sheep run out all Winter, and of course
have to furnish rations " occasionally
for some hungry dogs, but as l have
profted by the advice given in your
valuable paper, and have my flock under
lock and key every night, the result is
that | have not lost one by dogs Our
enclosure is 100 feet square, with posts
ten feet high. We have II feet in
width ON three sides covered in with
pointed roof making covered enclc-
sure II by 800 feet with good loft
overhead for fodder The front side is
fence ten feet high with double doors
in the center, making the enclosed yard
76 by SO feet, which we divide off by
movable hurdle fences as required, Civ
ing sufficient room for feeding purposes
in each division, and all accessible with
double teams to supply fodder or re-
move manure, and this makes US secure
from dogs, thieves and storms"
DANCED TO STocK FROM GypcI1u