| od in the proper Conon, ‘shrin age dc 
pr fe of the producer until after the final cu 
own as_ fermenting or sweat stage, has been finished 
in the stack or barn and the water content has become normal, 
The shrinkage that actually affects the producer’ s profits is due 
=) 10. a relatively small loss in weight caused by continued dry 
_ weather which lowers the normal water content of marketable hay 
_ This loss is liable to be offset by the increase in water above normal, 
_ which takes place oun the damp weather when hay absorbs water _ 
se from the air. 
- (8) Shrinkage causes an actual loss to the shipper or dealer when he 
buys and stores hay containing more than the normal water conten 
- for well-cured barn or stack-cured hay (a) when the hay has been 
baled from the windrow or cock and is bought before it has gone 
entirely through the ‘‘sweat,”’ or (6) when a large mow or stack 
baled and sold immediately after having gone through the ‘‘sweat.”’ 
_ __In the first mstance practically every bale wil shrink more or less, 
: hile in the second instance only the hay from the interior of the ee 
pile will lose in weight. 
_ (9) There is practically no loss of dry or nutrient matter durines the 
ones of hay while in the barn or stack, provided the hay has bee 
properly cured before it is hauled from the field. Undercured hay 
containing an excessive amount of water, is liable to become so ho 
in the barn or stack that it will become discolored, charred, or, in 
extreme cases, entirely burned up by spontaneous combustion. 
(10) Under certain conditions the producer can determine how 
= “much shrinkage to expect in hay produced on his farm. These con 
itions necessitate (a) an adequate, full sized, experienced haymaking 
—erew; (0) the use of a definite, efficient, and practically unchangeable ~ 
nethod of operation and curing; and (c) comparative freedom fro: 
interference by unfavorable weather. Under these conditions the 
average shrmkage can be determined by wens a given quantit 
or by a water analysis. The percentage of shrinkage found will be 
applicable until the conditions are changed. 
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