254 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



Forty-eight to 60 feet long, 24 feet wide and 16 feet to the eaves are 

 good dimensions for a single shed, and a shed 60 by 24 by 16 feet should 

 hold about 60 tons of well-settled hay, or the annual crop from 12 to 15 

 acres of good alfalfa land. A pair of such sheds may be built end to 

 end with a driveway between them, the roof being continuous. The hay 

 should be taken in at the end of each shed by a hay fork and carrier. 



A hay shed should be well braced and strongly constructed. The 

 system of long bracing, such as is shown in the accompanying figures, 

 gives great rigidity and strength, and is much preferable to the method 

 of short bracing commonly practiced. The short braces readily work 

 loose, and the shed soon becomes "rickety" and unsafe, and is apt to 

 blow over in a strong wind. 



The roof should be strongly constructed and securely fastened to the 

 posts. Galvanized iron or steel roofing makes a durable roof covering, 

 and the same material or boards may be used for siding. It is advisable 

 to side hay sheds, at least part of the way down, otherwise there may be 

 considerable damage from drifting rain or snow. If the hay is stored 

 a bent at a time the side protection is not so necessary, but if the plan is 



FIG. 206. Plan of construction of end section of hay barn and general plan of bracing 

 for middle sections. [Courtesy Kansas Experiment Station.] 



