Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1869 — Building Hay-Mows. [ARTICLE]

Building Hay-Mows.

On small farms, where the horse fork is not used, much hard labor may be saved by building up one-half of the hay-mow at a time. For instance, with the first hay drawn, fill either thq right or left-hand end of the bay,-up as far as the big beam, then rake down the side, and while this part is settling, fill the other half. The two parts being filled at different times, will not settle alike, and of couras will not unite, so there will be no use ror a hayknife in winter. The principal benefit of this plan is derived by lessening the hardlabor while unloading. One-half of the mow being lower than the other, the top of the load may bo thrown on the highest part, and the balance below, which 'saves pitching from the rack over the big beam. trying this mode of inowingaway hay, it will not be abandoned. There is still another advantage; the greatest heat caused by fermentation is always in the centre of the mow, and the seam here gives escape to the generated gases. There is very generally a neglect among farmers to properly prepare the bottom of their bays for hay to keep well In most cases the hay is allowed to lie upon the ground, or at best, to rest upon a few poles or rails laid on the earth. The best construction we ever used was to put in logs fifteen inches through, across the bay, once in eight or ten feet, and upon these spread rails or poles, leaving a spaco between them of about two inches. This gives a free circulation below the mow, and not a pound is injured if it remains there for years. —Ohio Farmer.