1919 



Hotson; on Sphagnum Dressings 



219 



time enough moss for a single bale. The pressure for baling is obtained 

 from a side wheel with four spokes for handles. The size of the bale is 

 12x17 inches and may be as long as is thought best. After making bales 

 of different lengths it was decided that one 16 inches (40.6 cm.) long was 

 the most convenient to handle. The bales are thus made 12x17x16 

 inches (30.5 x 43.2 x 40.6 cm.), bound by wire with three strips of ordinary 

 lath on each end as well as on the bottom and top, to keep the wire from 

 cutting into the moss. The sides are usually left unprotected, since it 

 is found that if the bales are piled on the side while damp they pack 

 sufficiently to prevent the loss of any great amount of moss by handling. 



Three horizontal grooves are made in piston, the inner surface of the 

 door and on the bottom where the bales are to be made. Into these grooves 

 the pieces of lath to protect the sides of the bale are put and held in 

 place by brads. The trough is then filled with moss which has previously 

 been looked over to remove au}^ material that is useless for making pads, 

 the lid is clamped down and the pressure applied by means of the windlass. 

 When the moss is pressed sufficiently the piston is held in place by a dog 

 and rachet. The lid is then raised and three additional pieces of lath 

 are put on top of the bale in a similar position to those on the ends and 

 bottom. The bale is wired with No. 15 double looped annealed baling 

 wire, which is about 9 feet (2.75 m.) in length. With the size of the bale 

 used, one of these strands will make two by cutting in the middle, leaving 



PLATE 35 



Baling moss with an ordinary Pacific Coast paper baler. 



