BUILDING THE HAY STACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 25, 13 February 1937, Page 19

BUILDING THE HAY STACK

Eliminating Waste ; Value of Good Coverage WQRTH OF BOTTOM F00T The bottom foot of the stack is worth three, or even four, feet of that at the top, and when this fact is moro generally realised there will be less wastage of good hay in Hawke's Bay. Some farmers start building the stack on the ground, others put down soilie rubhishy stuff first, while others first lay rough timber over .the area. In the case where the stack has been ,built on the ground, the first foot, which should be the best owing to being more tightly packed, is wasted owing to dampness rising fronx the ground. Keeping the bottom off the ground more than pays for the trouble involved. There are very feW fatms on which there are not sqme spars poplat trees, which could easily be utilised for the bed of the Stack. Wastage is frequently to be fuund On the tops of stacks, due to lack of piotective cover from the weather. Many farmers do not go to the trouble oi pulting on any class Of covoricg, in which case wastage could be groatly minimised by a good raking of the top oncfc it has settled oown^ When pro£erly ralced much jc the ra'in will be tUrued which otherwiso would soak into the tody of the Stack and So turn good bay musty. StAckitiT Once an A :i. The traditional rush thatching, which was so popular in the eariier days when stack-building was an art, iA sell dont to be seen nowadays. Tbo practica is still, however, carried on by one or two farmers in the Puketapu and Moteo districts, and no Other fortii ot cOver gives a stack the finisn which is Charactefistic of careful farming. Twenty years ago loads of rushes for thatching was an every day oceurrence on the roads, but With the practice passing out of date a loacJ in Puketapu on Wedfiesday attranted interest. If not used one seasou hay still has its value if carried over to the following seasons, and it is vChy handy to fall back On in a hard winter following httle or no autumn growth. At the present time there is an abundance of feed, but cautious farm ers are saying, "wait and see what will happen when the frosts come." Indications at present do not point towards the need for old bay, but on the other hand the end of the winter is a long way off. Ealing has helped many farmers out Of their difficujties where storage is available. Cover for this is also essential, although on several farms are to be seen heaps of baled hay which is f ully exposed to the weather'. Although packed tightly under heavy pressure the moistufe from prolonged shoWery or misty weather will permeat the best baled hay, and cause a wastage which makes the cost of baling a loss also. Injurious to Stock. i The most important point regarding musty hay is its injurious effect on stock. It is liable to set Up an inflammation of the kidneys, which is a serious mattei1, to say nothing of causing indigestion and colic. ' In addition, musty or mouldy hay will quickly put .a cow ofif fier milk. The same illeffects apply equally to sheep and horses as it does to cattle. Some farmers have the idea that by putting a little treacle into rubbish hay it will make it quit^ good for stock. The treacle certainly makes the hay more palatable, but it still remains injurious when conspmed by stock. Farmers would do well to put a mateh to any hay showing mould, H