Читать книгу More Straw Bale Building - Peter Mack - Страница 66

Some general concerns about bales should be addressed.Many modern combines chop the straw into short pieces as it is harvested. This chopped straw can be baled into good tight and dry bales, but they are much more difficult to cut, shape, and trim. The best bales contain high percentages of long, unbroken straw.

Baling machines affect bale quality, too. An improperly adjusted baler will tighten one string more than the other, producing lopsided, curved bales. If there are many such bales, avoid purchasing, since it will be difficult to bend and straighten each bale (however, if you’re building a round house, these are the bales you want!). Each bale has a cut side and a folded side. The folded side will always be shaggier than the cut side.Examine both sides to see if they are relatively smooth and even. Smooth bales will require less trimming later on and are more desirable.

3.5: Common bales come in either two- or three-string sizes, with roughly standard dimensions.

Check bales to be sure that there is not too much grain left mixed in with the straw. While some seed heads inevitably make their way into bales, large pockets of seed or a high percentage of straw with seed heads intact are grounds for declining the purchase. These seed heads attract pests and can activate microbial activity in your finished wall.

Grain crops are often treated with chemical fertilizers and sprays. While these chemicals have passed tests for use in food production, you may wish to find out which products have been used on any straw you purchase. It is possible to find straw that has been grown organically or with a minimum of chemical interference.