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The Brussels Post, 1976-07-21, Page 14Remembering Haying in the old days (By For a fewdaY7. sG.prSitorrongto) the haying operations there was the annual check-up on various pieces of machinery associated with the process. At times it-necessitated a trip to town on a dull day to purchase new parts and a gallon of machine oil. Often the general store handled this commodity as well as any hardware merchants. All holes in the frame leading to moveable parts were rimmed out. and a liberal measure of lubricating oil dispensed from the omnipresent oil can. Then followed a thorough inspection of the cutting blade. Loose section's had to be removed as well as the damaged ones. The heads of the rivets were cut off by means of a cold chisel and hammer. A punch was needed to remove the remaining portion. It was an improvident farmer who did not have a supply of new sections available for immediate use, as well as a box of assorted brass rivets. Replacing the sections was a simple operation in the implement shed but when the same had to be done in the hay-field the task was slightly more inconvenient. At all times the necessary tools and parts had to be carried in the metal tool box affixed to the mower's metal frame. Following a close inspection of the knife, the sharpening process was undertaken. Fixing the blade in a vice attached to the work-bench, deft strokes of a sandstone or corundum whetstone or file were applied. Occasionally an old-fashioned grindstone was called into operation. At times this necessitated someone to turn the handle and see that drops of water were supplied from time to time. Where help was scarce an. ingenious farmer had an attachment affixed to the frame by which he could operate the wheel with one foot while a tin can suspended from a stout wire dropped its liquid contents through a small nailhole in its base on to the revolving stone. When the cutting blade was inserted in the cutting bar it was most important to see that the pitman rod operated in a line parallel to the knife. Failing this the knife's head invartiably broke off which necessitated labourious attention. About the last week in June or early July the haying season began. As the farmer and his sons sat on the front porch to survey the setting sun which indicated a fine day on the morrow, a young moon lying On its back like a bowl prophesied dry weather. From time to time a bat in dizzy flight wheeled and circled about the eaves. Chimney swifts darted in and out the weathered pile. Crickets creaked a shrill cacophony and a lone cicada plied his wiry bow in long-spun cadences. From the gloomy woods a barn- owl hooted his lonesome measures. 'the barking of a neighbour's dog could be heard as he chased a moving vehicle along the concession. From the pasture field behind the barn where the cattle grazed the creaking of wire could be detected as an old bossy stuck her head through the fence the better to salvage stray stalks which always seemed appealing to the taste. What a sight greeted the farmer as he stopped to open the gate or let down the bars which lead to his hayfield, a green, glimmering, shimmering stand of timothy. As, he stood enraptured he recalled the first impressions of W. C. Bryant as he surveyed the 'prairies; "It stretched in airy undulations As if the ocean. in his gentlest swell Stood still with all his rounded billows fixe And motionless forever. Motionless? No - they are all unchained again. The clouds Sweep over with their shadows, and, beneath, The surface rolls and fluctuates to the eye. 14.-THE BRUSSELS POST, JULY 21, 1976 Dark hollows seem to glide along and chase The sunny ridges." Hither and thither over the field little breezes tease the slender blades of timothy among which white daisies swing and shine on' stems so short they cannot see but lift their innocent eyes seeminly distressed and stare to see what comes apace. Purple-fringed clover and pinkish-white alsike, so soon to wither, add sweet perfume to the morning air. Letting down the cutting bar and putting the mower in gear haying operations for another year had begun. All the summer's day could be heard drowsy, steady clackety-clack of the mower, at times low, at others loud, as the keen blades cut through the verdant, aromatic herbage. He saw the gleaming grass and flowers fall to the moist earth. All day the, sweating team strained round. and round the lessening squares. Once midmorning he paused in the leafy shade of a lofty elm whose innumerable small hands moved with every passing breeze or hung wan and dull. As the faithful steeds rested they switched their tails nervously to ward off offending flies or snatched at the delicate tops of hay within their reach. Swallows swept low on frail pinions, a black crow stalked amid the withering blades while a grey hawk, poised on high, wheeled and dropped to snatch an unsuspecting prey. Field mice scampered away in fright and a rabbit went hippity-hopping out of danger. After supper, the farmer armed with his gleaming scythe, sheared away any straggling stands of hay in fence corners and headlands to fall in scented swaths. A day or so later depending upon weather ' conditions, the quality and quantity of the yield, the process of raking began. The swaths scooped up had to be dumped at regular intervals into windrows of the proper' size to make the coiling "easier. Coiling new-mown hay was an art. A few forkfuls deftly placed on top of each 'other by a simple flick of the wrist prepared the growing mound for a final and larger forkful to cover the whole and produce a product resembling an old-fashioned thatched beehive. When the hay had cured sufficiently, all farmhands rode to the field on the hayrack with wooden uprights front and back. While most rode with their feet dangling over the frame, the driver usually stood erect or tried so to do as he balanced himself as the wagon lunged over uneven terrain. Usually a young member of the family was assigned the role of building the load. Seniors forked the coils aloft using caution to place each forkful where it could be used advantageously. At times amid the crackling rustle of the pitch-forked hay, each halted to wipe away the sweat from dripping brow, On the way to the barn how pleasant it was to sprawl atop the sweet-smelling fodder while the idly clacking wheels lurched in the ruts, At times a broad board or plank was affixed to the floor at the rear of the hay-rack on which one of the workers rode and was obliged to open and close all the gates. Often he preferred to walk the' dusty trail made by the cattle having to use extreme caution at every sten. Once within the confines of the barn, unloading begat, Pigeons aroused from their' perches within the building or from the roof's peak circled frantically before settling down on the ridge of the implement shed. One labourer forked the hay into the snow while others heaved it into place and leisurely tramped it to drive out any excess air mass. Usually each_ mow bordering the threshing floor was used thus alleviating the necessity of having to fork the load's contents over a cross-beam, Initially the descent froth the mow was made by sliding down amid a shower of timothy seeds or offensive thistles. Room had to be left to accommodate the harvest sheaves of wheat or barley. An early threshing ' often was required in order to make space available for the oats. If the hay crop was heavier than usual and storage space at a premium, a hay-stack was built adjacent to the barn at one side of the front entrance.. This necessitated an experienced hand if the contents were to withstand the vagaries of the weather through summer, fall and winter. Often in midwinter a traveller could see the farmer busily engaged at feeding time. Can you still see him in your mind's eye? "He from the stack carves out the accustomed load, Deep-plunging and again deep-plunging oft His broad keen knife into the solid mass; Smooth as a wall the upright remnant stands, With such undeviating and even force He severs it away; no needless care Lest storms should oversc t the leaning pile Deciduous or its own unbalanced weight." (Anon) About the turn of this century a new mechaniSm for handling the hay in the barn came into common use, the hayfork. When the load was drawn on to the barn floor, the horses were unhitched and taken outside for the task of unloading. If the barn floor happened to be, a bit too narrow, one horse had to be backed out, the other led.. The hayfork was lowered cautiously, plunged deep, forced deeper by stamping of the crossbar while balancing oneself with the rope. Finally the lever was adjusted to bring the tangs into a horizontal' position. In the meantime the horses had been hitched to the whiffle-tree to which was attached the hayfork rope by means of a hook and clevis. As the team moved away from the barn, the person on the load moved towards the front or rear of the load, trip rope in hand, as each bundle was hoisted aloft. The ascent was leisurely until the bundle met the carriage high up among the rafters and swayed along the track. When the forkful reached the deSired destination the trip rope was pulled to release the burden which plunged downward sending dust and seeds and warm air in all directions. As the hay was mowed away to the sides of the barn, the fork was pulled back in readiness for another bundle. Usually four bundles constituted a load. This meant that the load had to be carefully assembled accordingly. At times haying operations continued after supper, especially if a rainfall threatened. The last load brought in at nightfall was usually left on the barn floor amid the gathering darkness. During the night, the rain came down to delay haying operations on the morrow but it was a relief to greet the shower as it moistened parched ground and provided a 'brief respite for tired muscles. About the same time the siderake and hay-loader came into practical use by many thus reducing much of the labour associated with haying. Midcentury mechanical balers structuring rectangular bundles came on the market. This meant, however, that the hay had to be well cured prior to baling or the bundles had to stand in the field for a considerable length of time and run the risk of summer showers. These bales had to be loaded manually and individually on the wagon, a tedious operation. Later a mechanical device hurled the bales into a hay-rack with all four ends and sides encased. Of course the bundles fell indiscriminately and had to be handled individually at the barn to --be placed on an escalating elevator and dumped into the' mow to be stored away in well-ordered tiers. Recent inventions have further changed the method of haying operations. Some may recall the early spring days when Sam Cudmore toured the countryside in his Model T Ford in search of surlus hay from last year's crop. When a deal h ad been completed the hay press and gasoline engine were pressed into service. Neighbours were asked to assist as the hay was forked from one to another in the mow, to one who fed the hungry jaws. Uniform bales bound in two strands of hay-wire were disgorged from the press and piled neatly on the barn floor or vacant mow; In due time these bales were drawn to box-cars at the nearby railway station 'for delivery to urban centres or to the East Coast for shipment overseas, "good men perform just deeds and brave men die And win not honour such as gold can give, While the vain mitltittideS plod on and live And serve, the cause that pins them down." (A non) DO by C ni pl F SI Fl Si (I\ BI BI M IN C( C)