Today in 1878, US Patent 206976 A was issued, an invention of Charles A. Sands, for his “Improvement In Sacks For Baling Hops.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes these claims:

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved method of baling hops and other products in compact, quick, and convenient manner; and the invention consists of a sack, open at both ends and hemmed, in connection with heads, over which the sack is tied by means of strings drawn through the hems after the hops are compressed.