[Cir. 131— B] 



MEASURING HAY IN RICKS OR STACKS.* 



By H. B. Mc Clure, Agriculturist, W. J. Spillman, Agriculturist in Charge, and 

 J. W. Froley, Agriculturist, Office of Farm Management. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The methods presented here for determining the number of tons of 

 hay in a rick or stack are in no way ofRcial. They simply represent 

 the results of a somewhat extended investigation of the subject cover- 

 ing a period of several years. It is believed, however, that the method 

 here presented for determining the number of cubic feet in a rick or 

 stack of hay is quite accurate. The formulas given should be con- 

 sidered merely as the nearest approach we are able to make with our 

 present knowledge. 



THE PROBLEM OF MEASURING HAYRICKS. 



The problem of obtaining an accurate formula for determining the 

 number of cubic feet in a hayrick is difficult because of the variation 

 in the shape of ricks. Even if the number of cubic feet in a rick is 

 known, the problera of converting this into tons is difficult because 

 of the wide variation in the compactness of hay in bulk. 



The study of this subject was begun in the old Office of Grass and 

 Forage-Plant Investigations, from which the Office of Farm Manage- 

 ment developed. The actual number of cubic feet in a ton of hay in 

 ricks has been measured in 92 cases. The results are very variable 

 and show that any general rule for determining the weight of hay in a 

 rick by measurement must be only an approximation. But thousands 

 of tons of hay are sold annually on such measurements, and therefore 

 it is desirable to establish at least average values for the quantities 

 concerned in these measurements. 



MEASURING THE VOLUME OF A HAYRICK. 



The volume of a rick is equal to its length multiplied by its cross 

 section. The length is easily measured. Let us consider the prin- 

 ciples involved in measuring the area of the cross section. If the 

 top of the rick were perfectly fiat and the two sides straight up and 



1 Issued July 5, 1913. 

 ICir. 131] 19 



