Some Hay Questions

What is the sbrinkage in the weight of hay? Is it more profitable to Bell directly from the field at $12, or after lylng in the mow three innnths at from $15 to $18 When we say "two tons per acre," do we mean aa it comes from the lot or after scasooiug in the stack or mow? The foregoing questions were answered nt long ago in The Rural New Yorker. A. M. Lagrange said: "I prefer to eell hay after it has been in the barn, as then there is more time to handle it. In lay opinión it shrinks very little until cold weather. A yield of two tona to the acremeans oneof seasoned haj'fiom the mow. I have pressed hay over thirty years, and I find that to take the chafE out as much as possible and keep it at home for the cows and sheep pays better than to put it in the bale, as the consumeres do iiot want it for their horses. I label my hay and sell it a little above the market price." D. C. Lewis said: "It would be more profttable to sell hay directly from the field at twelve dollars per ton than to keep it and risk shrhikuge and handling. Wheii we say 'two tona per aere' we mean hay taken from the mow for marIcet. It would be better, or at least as good, to sell liay from the mow inimediately after the sweating procesa at telve dollars as to sell it, the next winter at fifteen dollara." Charles Chapinan replied: --As nearly as I can teil, in hay cut before it is in full blossom the shriukage has been about one-sixth. From this I allow that it would be more profitable to sell directly from the iield at twelve dollars jer ton than three ïnontbs afterward at iifteen dollars, as fifty cents per ton would not pay for the extra handling of the hay after allowing for shriukage. At eighteen dollars per ton the case would be reversed, as I could handle the ïay and stand the shrinkage for six dolars. When I say 'two tons per acre' I mean as it comes from the mow after seasoning.'" t