Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-13
THE FARM sAND HOME.
THE PROBLEM OF PROTECT
ING HAY STACKS.
A variety OF Coyers-Fencss and Peace
Rows-Eiye- BANDED bees More
Clover-Farm Notes and
Home HintL
rro.ectlnr Hay staeks.

Forty-five years ago, in Illinois, ]
vas covering stacks with slough
grass. Thirty-hve years ago | was
doing the same in Page county, Iowa,
writes W. r. Laughlin in Coleman's
Rural World. Have driven many
stakes and leaned mp many poles
in the almost vain attempt TO keep
the gales from taking the tops of the
stacks Of hay and grain, or from 80
displacing them that the rains found
easy access
Some years since Professor SanbOrn
sent out cards asking a great many
Missouri farmers as 10 their estimate
of what per cent. Of the value Of the
hay that was stacked out Of doors
was lost by the weather. These
estimates he averaged. | have not
his bulletin at hand. but feel sure
that the loss was not less than
twenty-five per cent.
For long time had been wrest-
ling mentally with the problem Of
how to protect stacks. Had sent for
documents to two parties advertising
stack covers. Their covers were all
heavy and quite costly, There is
not the least doubt but they would
have protected the stacks, but whether
being heavy they would have lasted
at all in proportion TO the price. Is
with me still doubtful. Whether
water proofng them with some prep
aration or other would tend 10 pre-
serve them is yet an experiment
Last summer | concluded 10 try
covering one stack OF clover hay with
muslin costing Ave cents pcr yard.
small rick containing four and half
tons. built my stack carefully and
made it quite sharp on top. the cover
was put ON the hour tho stack was
finished. That night 1t raincd three
fourths OF an inch; the cover did SO
well that little later placed the
same kind Of covers on two other
stacks Of the same size.
Mr. A. A. Berry. farmer and stock
raiser. agricultural editor Of the
"Clarinda Herald, and observer for
the signal service. has furnished mc
with an itemized statement IL the
rain fall here. which shows that since
my hay was stacked. and before the
great snowstorm OF December Z. We
had little more than twelve inches
OF rain. In one night there fell two
and half inches
Except in two places where the
covers We're misplaced by the wind,
my hay Is in perfect condition, just
as good as If it had been in barn
Two OF my stacks are standing uu-
touched. | invite anybody who
wishes to examine them. The covers
have raid me up to date az least as
much ~ their cost, and seem but Int
tie the worse This time ! fastened
ON my covers by tying 70 them az
weights stones ana fence posts For
the next hay crop | shall sew on each
cover ten pockets 81 good material,
each large enough TO hold say fifteen
pounds Of stone, gathering the cover
where each pocket is sewcd on, OK
ccpt at the corners. so II will lit the
stack closely. then the wind cannot
get hold under the covers and they
will stay right there in any gale; the
wind can get no hold on the hay. and
the stack will stand in shape TIM the
gale shall be strong enough to push
il over bodily.
Mr.. Editor, this is only report Of
progress. expect to continue the ex-
pertinent. How many more will try
il carefully and report?