Show n tURING CURING URINO HAY BYj BY 1 j USE OF TRUCKS 1 Simple Cheaply Constructed LaR LaborSaving LaborSaving La La- Saving bor-Saving Devices Are R Quite Effective fit t SIMILAR TO ORDINARY RACK g t Protection Afforded From Moisture in inc c Grou Ground d and Canvas Cover Prevents Prevents Prevents Pre Pre- vents Injury From Rain Con Rain Con Considerable Labor Is Saved Prepared by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment of or Agriculture x w A new method of curing hay economically eco- eco and effectively ely even under r. r unfavorable weather weather- conditions Is Is I made possible by the us use of hay bay trucks y F which are simple cheaply constructed I lab labor saving labor s r sav Ing devices devices' similar to t tr k tt nury nary hay racks A hay truck consists I i i of a frame mounted on two low wheels A number of them are placed about If the field and are used to stack the tt partly cured hay on The hay is t thus us jj protected from moisture in the ground r and a canvas camas cover prevents Injury i 4 from rain When the hay is to be hauled to the barn or baler no reloadIng reloadIng reload reload- Ing Is necessary for the team can be hitched ed to the truck These trucks can be used to advantage when pros protecting pro- pro Y s bound grain from the rain untIl until until un- un til It Is ready to be thrashed and for hauling to the silo etc It Is estimated that a tr truck ck and the f rd necessary canvas 9 feet by 14 feet f w costs about 20 f t IT T While Shile hay trucks have been m used f successfully in many parts of or the lf 2 South Sout they can be e used to advantage u u In an any locality wh where re there Is a n large acreage of hay especially alfalfa and where where hay making Is a more or less hazardous hazardous' undertaking on account of ofa a the prevalence of rainy or or cloudy 1 weather The additional cost I In curIng curc cur- cur c Ing hay when the truck method Is used Is more than offset by the gain in efficiency ef pt- t considering the average loss of hay cured by ordinary methods inN In rainy I weather h 11 N er f How the Truck Is Mader Made r I f A A hay truck 12 feet long by 7 feet 1 1 1 Ide Ide will hold about 1500 to 2000 pounds of cured hay It consists of n It rack which rests on an shaped A-shaped J- J 1 frame At the rear t the frame rame Is SU sup sup- I j r A i- i Q P db r p u n II tI 11 II u t I I 1 li If II i l i n II 1 I It N 1 1 I I t 1 4 it 7 ii 1 li x t II i 1 Main Maln frame of Truck A With Ra Rack k J. Indicated by Dotted Lines i ported by two 10 IG to 20 Inch wheels placed about 4 feet from the end 1 The front is supported by a 6 G bj by b 8 Inch S-Inch inch rl wooden block of sufficient length to toI I t hold bold the truck level This Is known as the trigger and Is fastened by a heavy s f b bolt between the two main frame timbers tim tim- jO bers hers near where they come together S Upright standards art aru placed at each of the frame In shaped A-shaped position wr end an t 1 tion At the top of each standard a K r i notch Is cut to receive a n 2 by 4 Inch incha I 1 ridge pole that supports the canvas v a 4 s covering and keeps It from lying flat fiat flaton s I t on the hay thus permitting the air to l circulate freely at the top The truck f Is moved by m means ns of a 2 horse 2 team and a wheel 2 running gear similar to th the front running gears of a l wheel w ed wagon This gear is attached to the front end of the truck track by means of a long clevis pin and when the team starts tarts the forward movement causes the trigger to trip and drag dragon on the ground the weight of the load being thus shifted to the running gears Upon reaching the barn or baling machine the team is backed a astep astep astep step or two which causes the trigger to assume an upright position and again support the front end of the load How to Use the Truck Hay may be partly cured before ItIs It Itis itIs is placed on the truck to avoid danger from heating beating and spoiling sporTIng It is desirable de to do the last third or fourth of the curing on a truck under a canvas can can- va vas cover where It is protected from the sun and rain When the yield of ot hay is light It Is a good plan to mow It In the morning rake it in the afternoon afternoon afternoon after after- noon and put It on the trucks In the thee e evening or next morning after the dew Jl Jl'S S 'S 8 Side View B Showing Trigger and Position of Wheels Is off When the yield Is above a ton per acre the hay should be mowed in inthe inthe th the morning the next morning and raked In the windrows before noon where It should be allowed to lie He for about two vo hours before put on the trucks The use of the hay truck effects a n considerable saving In labor over the common method of cocking and loading loadIng load load- Ing from the cock by hand hand Indeed the hay truck method requires even less labor than that of curing In the cock and hauling to press stack or barn with the push rake |