86 CLOVER CULTURE. 



lem of spontaneous combustion as of interest merely to the 

 scientist or perhaps to the manufacturer. While it has 

 long been known that spontaneous combustion is liable to- 

 occur in heaps of rubbish containing oil and other carbon- 

 aceous matters in a state of minute distribution, it has been 

 steadily held by the majority of scientists that under no cir- 

 cumstances is the spontaneous combustion of clover hay pos 

 sible. The mysterious fires that have occurred in barns, sheds 

 and stacks have been regarded as the results of accident, or 

 the farmer's pipe, or the nibbling by mice of matches dropped 

 out of the boy's pocket as he was tramping the hay in the mow. 

 As late as the summer of 1869, Professor Sanborn, one of the 

 highest authorities on such questions, in answer to an inquiry 

 in the Breeders* Gazette, of Chicago, said: 



In fact, I never knew before this case, of a barn burning- where 

 either lightning, coal oil lanterns or satisfactory evidence of incendiarism 

 generally for insurance was not the easily inciting cause. Hay or 

 fodder that is green enough to ferment will pack closely in a mow by its 

 very weight, and as it heats it settles closer and closer, of course exclud- 

 ing the circulation of the air, except it be by a very slow movement. As 

 the hotter part is the center of the mow, it will be seen to be very doubt- 

 ful whether air, always essential to flame, will be present in amount 

 sufficient to produce flame. I doubt whether spontaneous combustion of 

 hay or corn fodder is possible. 







We had, ever since our attention had been called to the 

 matter, held to the same view. There are frequently myste- 

 rious things connected with fires, and the occasional loss or 

 barns from no apparent cause seems to us no more mysterious 

 than dozens of cases of fires in cities. 



During the month of September, 1889, we received a 

 letter from Mr. H. R. Learning, of Wyoming, Iowa, of which 

 we quote the important part: 



Enclosed find a sample of clover hay put up in June, on the third day 

 after cutting, in a barn that would hold a hundred tons. It became so hot 

 that it could not be held in the naked hand, and tons of it are completely 

 spoiled. Farmers are in a panic here about their hay. Stacks and barns 

 are taking fire and they do not know what to do. Fifty tons of hay burnt d 

 within one-half mile of my own farm last night, from its own heat. This 

 hay was watched as it was expected to burn, and there was no question as to 

 its cause. One barn, two miles east of here, was emptied of its hay day be- 

 fore yesterday, that was already on fire in the inside of the mow and kept 

 down by water till it was hauled out to the field. After being hauled out 

 it took fire and burned completely up. 



The letter in full may be found in the Homestead of Oc- 

 tober ist, of the year named, and furnishes clear and convinc- 

 ing proof of at least more than one case of spontaneous com- 

 bustion. About the same time two cases were reported, one 



