On Hay-making. 35 



exposure on the road, and at market for about 24 hours), by the time 

 it is usually delivered to a purchaser. During the following winter, 

 the waste will be little or nothing : it is nearly obvious, that the same 

 hay will weigh on delivery 80 in summer, and 90 in winter. From 

 this circumstance, and others which relate to price, a farmer may de- 

 termine what season of the year is the most advisable for him to sell 

 his hay. I have known a gentleman have the hay of five years by 

 him at one time ; the price then rose, and he sold it to much advan- 

 tage ; and I now know, there are several farmers in this county, who 

 have from one to two thousand tons of hay. 



In the neighbourhood of Harrow, Hendon, and Finchley, there are 

 many hay-barns capable of holding from 30 to 50, and some even 100 

 loads of hay. They are found to be extremely useful and convenient 

 during a catching and unsettled hay harvest, as a safe receptacle for 

 the hay as fast as it becomes dry. In the very common case of ap- 

 proaching rain, when the hay is fit for carrying, every nerve is, or 

 ought to be, exerted, to secure it as much as possible ; and that is 

 most effectually done, by getting all the carts and waggons loaded 

 with it, and drawn into the barns : the rest of the hay must take its 

 chance in large cocks. These barns are also of considerable utility 

 for the reception of loaded carriages daily, a short time before night, 

 where they are secure, and afford certain employment for the men the 

 next morning, before breakfast, in unloading. Even in dull or damp 

 mornings, the hay can be safely unloaded under the cover of these 

 buildings, when it could not he done on to a stack in an exposed yard. 

 I remember a morning of this kind which threatened rain, in which 

 my neighbours durst not uncover their stacks, when, under the secu- 

 rity of a hay- barn, I unloaded twelve carts and waggons before the 

 men went to breakfast : the day turned out fine, and my people were 

 all ready for the hay field, where they re-loaded the carriages into the 

 same barns before night. 



In winter, and in all wet and windy weather, the barns afford safety 

 to the broken cuts, and an opportunity of cutting, weighing, and bind- 

 ing hay ; none of which operations could, at such a time, be performed 

 out of doors. The farmers whom I have consulted on this subject, 

 agree that hay may be put together earlier, even by a day, in a barn, 

 than it would be safe to do in a stack. 



The expense of a hay-barn is L. J 00 ; but it generally saves, in 

 straw and thatching, and in other advantages, the whole of its cost in 

 three years. Indeed, I built one on oak posts, in the most complete 

 manner, which holds 100 loads of hay, and am certain its savings 

 equalled its cost in two years ; but in this it was aided by the then 

 high price of straw. 



In the driest seasons, barns are a saving of 6s. or more per acre ; 

 and in wet seasons, the ready assistance which they afford in speedily 

 securing the hay, has been known to make a difference in price of 20s. 

 per load, on a small number of loads. 



Close barns exclude the current of external air, which is, probably, 

 the immediate cause of the ignition of the hot vapour, at the instant 



