Proceedixgs of the Farmers' Club. 337 



We found the arrangements and devices for accomplishing this object 

 of the best and most effective character. Two tons an hour, or 

 t^venty tons a day can be prepared for the food of animals in a 

 superior manner. The machinery and its operation may be described 

 as follows : The hay is carried by an endless belt to a rotary cutter, 

 which, acting in conjunction with a fixed leger-blade, cuts the hay 

 into pieces from three-quarters to one and one-half inches in length. 

 The cut hay falls into a chamber from which the air is exhausted by 

 a fan. The current of air thus withdrawn removes the dust, dirt, 

 etc., which are carried thereby into a separate room. After being thus 

 cleaned from dust, tlie hay is carried by a feeding device, between 

 two crushing rollers, which press it flat and softens its texture ; from 

 the crushing rollers the hay is carried away by an endless elevator to 

 a povrerful press, where 250 pounds of hay are put into a space of 

 nine cu1)ic feet. AVe do not regard the invention as valuable to the 

 general farming community. The machinery is expensive as well as 

 effective ; but for those who handle hay for commercial purposes it is 

 of the first importance. It permits the city consumer to dispense 

 entirely with apparatus for cutting. It insures him a clean, soft 

 article, free of dust, at a moderate cost. It enables the shipper to 

 send hay to market in more compact form, and perfectly protected 

 from the weather. 



J. B. LYMAK 

 JAMES A. WHITXEY. 

 S. EDWxiEDS TODD. 



The report of the committee was accepted, the Chair adding some- 

 remarks on the value of the process to city consumers. 



Adjourned- 



September 1, 1868. 



Mr. Nathax C. Ely in the chair, Mr. Jonx W. Chambeks, Secretary, 



Gkeex MA]!JTnjmG. 



Mr. W". P. Payne, Clinton, ]^ew York, inquired the best method 

 for manuring an orchard, where stable manure could not be easily 

 obtained. He had practiced sowing rye and turning it under. 



Mr. James A. Whitney. — Green manuring acts in two ways to 

 enrich the soil ; first, by simply returning to the soil a quantity of 

 carbonaceous matter, the decomposition of which affords carbonie 



[Inst.] 22 



