CONICAL HAYSTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1938, Page 3

CONICAL HAYSTACK

INCREASED POPULARITY. According to Mr J. H. Bell, Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland, writing in the “Journal of Agriculture,” the conical haystack has greatly increased in popularity during the past few years on farms near Auckland. It is used mainly for storing hay harvested from small fields up to 4 acres or 5 acres, and in cases where the handfork is still the only method of raising hay from the ground. Being small and offering a great surface to exposure it easily throws off heat generated after stacking, and the possibility of its firing is less than is the case with the large, oblong stack. The roof, being steep-pitched, will shed rain-water and will prevent it from penetrating. Especially is this so if the roof has been, well raked. All that is necessary in covering after raking is to prevent penetration of the rain at the top. This is done by placing a bag cover, generally made from one or two split fertilizer-sacks, on top and attaching weights to keep it in. position. The conical stack, although small, will hold a surprisingly large amount of hay. It is usually about 5 yards in diameter and 15ft. high when settled.

One commonly experiences waste when opening the oblong haystack. Extra precautions are necessary to prevent rain-water from penetrating the roof at the danger-line, just above the eaves. If it penetrates there it generally runs to- the centre of the stack and to the ground, destroying much hay. I have yet to see a conical stack where the water has penetrated. Generally, the hay is of good quality, because great heat is seldom generated. The photograph shows two conical stacks, the nearer one of the two being uncovered and the rear one with its cover still attached. The advantages of the conical stack are that they give a reduction in waste, there is less risk of heating, and the problem of covering is Until the 'farmer is accustomed to them they may be more troublesome to build than the ordinary oblong stack. On farms where labour is scarce and where there is no lifting apparatus, the small conical type of stack will be found an excellent means of storing hay.