STACKING RECTANGULAR-BALED HAY IN THE OPEN

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 82, Issue 2, 15 February 1951, Page 154

STACKING RECTANGULAR-BALED HAY IN THE OPEN

Basis of Design

The make-up of each section of an Addison stack is shown in Fig. 5. For small stacks the narrow sides of the sections form the width of the stack and the sections are placed narrow side to narrow side as shown in Fig. 7. The competition-winning stack and the neighbouring thatched stack in Fig. 1 are examples of this. Larger stacks may be built either as multiples of this base by abutting additional tiers alongside the first as in Figs. 7 and 8 or by expanding the capacity as in Figs. 7A and BA. Figs. 3, 9, and 10 show stacks built by this expansion method, and not multiple stacks.

Sections of stacks may be built alongside each other as close as possible and need not be interlocked. This requires very careful stacking of good bales, but it makes for ease and convenience in feeding out by sections, and if all is not required at one time, the remaining sections are as weather proof as was the whole stack before feeding out was begun.

An important feature of the design for the first or bottom tier is the gap of 4 to 6in. left in the centre between the two rows of four bales each running lengthwise (Fig. 5). This gap serves three purposes: It tends to allow for uneven lengths of bales and so assists in preventing protruding bales. It helps heat and moisture to escape. This gap may recur in various parts of the' stack through uneven sizes of bales, but unless it is left in the bottom layer some bales are likely to protrude in subsequent layers. A little loose hay may be inserted in the gaps on the weather end of the stack to keep out driving rain. The third advantage of the gap is added stability through having the tier of the greatest surface area at the bottom of the stack.

Placing of Bales

Each bale is placed on a wide side to assist stability. A bale made in a slice baler has one narrow side cut, and in the opposite side all the hay ends point in the same direction. The bales in the walls should be placed with the hay ends in the uncut narrow sides pointing downward, giving a thatching effect so that they will turn water as will thatch. If a bale is placed in any other way, either the cut side is outward or the straw ends point upward, tending to take water instead of turning it. Once this feature of a sliced bale is known to exist the correct way in which to place it can usually be seen readily, though some bales show it more than others.

Only the best bales are selected for the walls, and particularly for the corners, and care is taken to build perpendicular, and flush walls; if there is any departure from the perpendicular, it is only very slight and only inward. Diversion from these principles may lead, to a breaking down of the stack or spoil its water-proof qualities.

After the bottom tier has been built carefully the ends of each succeeding tier must be completed before the centre; that is, the last bales placed in a tier other than in the bottom tier must be toward the centre. Only in this way can good and lasting corners

and ends be built.

Sometimes the gap left for the last bale in a row is a little too small. Then this bale and the preceding one should be tilted away from each other above the double gap and forced in. This is quite satisfactory if the gap is well away from the ends, but it is an unwise procedure near the ends. If the gap is too small, the last bale is better .left out. Roofing the Stack Designs for tiers for an eaved and ridged roof are shown in Fig. 6. This method is very satisfactory for use with a treated sack cover and for thatching (Figs. 1 and 9). Where corrugated iron is available the lean-to type shown in Figs. 2,3, 4, and 10 is a perfect method of roofing. No wires press against .the hay to encourage

entry of water, for the weights are either placed on the roof itself, as in Fig. 3, or tied to wires which hang well clear of the stack from poles laid across the roof, as in Figs. 2 and 10. Making a Sack Cover Mr. J. Addison makes his creosoted sack covers in spare time or on wet days. He finds them inexpensive and very efficient. If well made, they last for several years. The cover on the competition-winning stack in Fig. 1 was made from 24 opened superphosphate bags sewn together in three rows of eight. Mr. Addison points out that superphosphate rots sacking and that it is of little use trying to make a sound cover out of partly-rotted bags, or even out of sound bags if superphosphate is left in the material.

Therefore he stresses the need for thorough washing of sound bags in several waters before sewing is begun. All bags are not the same size and some care is required in arranging the order before beginning sewing. Ordinary sewing twine is used. When the sewing has been completed the creosoting can be done on a fine day in a concrete yard by folding the cover up, pouring creosote over it, and manipulating the cover so that no part of it remains untreated. When thoroughly soaked it is hung to dry; it should be dried thoroughly before the rain is allowed to fall on it.

IBOOK REVIEW!

“World Outlook and State of Food and Agriculture”

THIS publication gives a useful and comprehensive review of the world outlook in agriculture for the next 2 years. No authority is better qualified than FAO to make this assessment of production, consumption, and trade of all important commodities of the soil and the sea.

In a brief introduction the view is expressed that purchases overseas by the U.S.A, for rearmament and stockpiling will place more dollars in the hands of other countries, enabling them in turn to buy increasing amounts of food from North America. In these countries widespread expansion of military programmes will lift spending power and intensify in many countries the already strong demand for food and agricultural products. At the same time a slight increase of agricultural production is forecast in almost all areas of the world.

Livestock products, which are of greatest concern to New Zealand, are expected to increase in volume mainly in two areas, Western Europe and North America. Meat production in Europe will, ' however, still remain below pre-war levels, and prices will therefore be firm to rising. FAO envisages an increasing demand for dairy products, particularly for fluid milk and cheese, but this may not apply’' to butter. Nevertheless butter prices are expected to rise because production may possibly decline in favour of alternative dairy products. Useful tables are appended to this report, giving for instance the relation of food prices to wholesale prices in recent years and estimated energy and protein intake per head in various countries. From the latter table instanced it will be realised that in spite of the bright outlook for production and trade hundreds of millions of people, particularly in the Far East, will still not have enough to eat.

This FAO review treats with some detail the prospect for a large number of agricultural, fisheries, and forestry commodities and the general economic outlook by various regions. It should be read by anyone interested in the problems of world agriculture and its causal relations to world events. C.D. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Washington, price 1 dollar.