Middletown transcript., 1897-09-11
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CONCERNING BALED HAY.

Baling Straw and Shredded Corn Fodder.
Size Of Bale.
That hay to be shipped should be
baled few will question. In some cases
ii will also pay to bale for home use.
II left outside, there Is always more or
less loss on the top and outside Of the
stack, and If stored under cover thu barn
room is expensive. Particularly is this
true Of straw. During recent seasons,
when hay was very scarce article on
many farms, all the straw was saved
for forage. AS it is difficult to stack 50
that there will be little loss many had
1t baled shortly after thrashing, when
enough to feed ten horses was easily
stored in comparatively small space.
This proved satisfactory, and the prao-
tice will undoubtedly increase, accord
ing to American Agriculturist, author
ity also for the following:
Large hay raisers have one or more
presses of their own. Where only small
amounts are raised the plan adopted by
thrashers is followed to advantage. One
man buys press and puts in the entire
summer and autumn baling, going
from farm to farm, remaining till each
Job is completed. The owner Of the
machine furnishes the men and charges
so much per bale.
Timothy hay can be baled as soon as
1t is thoroughly dry. It is usually Gus
tomary to stack 1t in the field, then
bale as soon as it is practically free
from moisture, which condition is
reached about six weeks after cutting.
Prairie hay can be baled in the field di-
rect The sooner the work is done the less
loss there will be from bleaching and
rain. Since shredded corn fodder has
become popular it also is baled largely,
especially if intended for market. As
yet there is no general demand for
shredded corn fodder for shipping con-
siderable distance, but in many places
it is wanted locally. A trade can easily
be built up if the fodder is always Of
the best quality. If quite dry when
shredded, it can be run directly into the
press, thus saving one handling. This
fodder molds quite readily If not well
cured, and it will require some little
experience to be able to tell just when
the fodder should be baled or stored.
The length of the bale can be regulat-
ed to suit the taste of the individual, as
the dividing boards can be dropped in
wherever desired. The usual length,
however, is 8 feet for small and feet
for large bales. Bales 80 inches are
quite common. The cross section of the
bale also varies, ranging about as fol-
lows: IA by 18 inches, 16 by 18, 16 by
30, II by %, IS by %. The larger sizes
are used for straw, excelsior and other
light stuff. The bales weigh from 70 to
100 pounds. Different markets require
different sized bales Chicago prefers
the small IA by 18 bale, weighing 70 to
80 pounds, and about 70 per cent of this
size, the next being IL by 20. weigh
ing 100 to $50 pounds. The most popu-
lar package in st. Louis weighs 80 to
105 pounds. In New York large bales
are the rule, those weighing 200 pounds
or over. Boston handles both the large
upright press and the small perpetual
press bales, weighing 100 to 150 pounds.
The amount Of hay baled in an hour
varies from two tons with small horse
power presses to four or four and half
with large machines operated by steam,
many of which are provided with auto
matte feeders. The prices range from
1926 to $575 each.