Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-16
BALED AND LOOSE HAY.
The Advantages of the Former RecOg-
nIzed by All Authorities.

The Advantages of the Former Recog-
nized by All Authorities.
The inventor who produces a cheap,
simple and effective machine for roll
ing hay after it has been cured and is
living on the ground will merit the
thanks of farmers and will be in the
way to fame and fortune. Bales of
hay that are cylindrical in form will
not pack as closely together as those
that are rectilineal in shape, and are,
therefore, not quite as desirable. But
it is likely that machine could be
more easily constructed to make the
former out of dried grass as it lies on
the ground ready to be gathered by
he rake. If such p machine could be
reduced it would do the work now
performed by the horse or mandrake,
the pitchfork and the hay-press. 1t
would put the hay in condition where
it could be easily handled, without the
use of the fork or the loader. If the
bales did not weigh more than a hun
dred pounds each strong man could
pick them up and put them on cart
or wagon. Only one man would be
required to load hay or to move it from
the cart into the barn or under the
roof that was to protect it,
Baled hay is so compact that 1t occu-
pies but little space. If hay could be
baled in the field nearly all farmers
would have buildings to store the entire
amount they raised. Round bales could
be piled up like cord-wood and covered
with a roof of thatch. As only the ends
of the bales would be exposed they
would receive little injury. Few farm
ers in the West can afford to build
barns that will hold all the hay they
raise, and as lumber is constantly adj
vancing in price there is little prospect
that they will ever be able to store in
buildings all the loose hay they pro-.
duee. The waste of hay placed in
stacks or ricks is large. Much of it
is injured or ruined by the rain and
snow, and still larger amount is blown
away In feeding it out to stock much
is blown away. Bales of hay can be
moved to the places where animals are
to be fed without loss They are con-
venient when hay is to be sold in viii
lase, and baled hay will always bring
larger price in towns, as most people
who buy it have small stables. 1t is
also preferred, for the reason that 1t
does not litter up the premises.
Hay is the best preserved in bales,
and animals of all kinds will eat 1t
cleaner than they will loose hay. 1t
keeps its color better, and preserves
most of its aroma. In these respects
it is like hops and medicinal herbs.
The free circulation of air through hay,
hops and herbs used in cookery and
medicines carries off the volatile mat
ter that is of the highest value. Clover
hay can be kept in bales so as to pre-
serve the color and fragrance OF the
blossoms. II clover hay is kept in
stack it becomes very dark colored,
loses its fragrance, and is very likely
to mold. When these changes take
place no kind of animals will eat II
readily, and it will be of little value to
such as do eat it. The feeding value oil
baled hay as determined at various ex-
perimentel stations is from ten to
twenty per cent. greater than that OF
loose hay. The longer it is kept the
greater is the difference in its feeding
value. The loss in keeping hay made
from common prairie grass is smaller
than in the hay made from clover and
timothy, chiefly for the reason that 1t
packs closer in the stack rick or NOW.
Chicago Times.