THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



Belt power hay baling press in operation. May be 

 operated by horse, steam, or gasoline power 



44. Baling. An eight-foot cube, or 512 cubic feet of well 

 settled hay in stack or mow, is generally estimated to weigh 

 a ton of 2,000 pounds. Different parts of the stack or mow 

 will vary in density on account of differences in pressure and 

 age, as will stacks or mows of different sizes. There are no 



data concerning the in- 

 fluence of the character 

 of the hay upon its den- 

 sity, although doubtless 

 redtop hay would have 

 a greater density than 

 timothy hay, and tim- 

 othy hay a greater den- 

 sity than clover hay. 

 When hay is baled 



tQ j ncrease the COn- 



venience and reduce 

 the cost of transportation it is ordinarily reduced to from one- 

 fourth to one-sixth the bulk occupied in the stack or mow. 

 There is considerable variation in the density obtained by dif- 

 ferent baling machines, the tendency being to increase the 

 density. Where hay is to be shipped long distances it is some- 

 times rebaled by hydraulic pressure to a density of 55 cubic 

 feet to the ton. 



Hay baling presses differ principally in the size and shape 

 of the bales produced, and the kind, amount, and direction of 

 the power applied. The bale chamber is usually made in three 

 sizes in continuous presses namely, 14x18, 16x18, and 17x22 

 inches. The length of the bale may be varied within certain 

 limits by varying the length of bale wire used. The length 

 of bale commonly varies from 38 to 42 inches. 



Hay presses may be divided into continuous presses and 

 box presses. In the former the power is applied horizontally, 

 while in the latter it is applied vertically. Continuous presses 



