Abstract: A wire-tying apparatus is shown for automatically tying a plurality of wires around a bale of material while the bale is held in a compressed state in a baling chamber. A first part of the apparatus includes a hydraulic ram press, an upper platen and a lower platen. This part of the apparatus operates to compress material in a baling chamber. A second part of the apparatus includes a group of feed chutes mounted on one side of the baling chamber, and a group of guide chutes mounted on another side of the baling chamber. Drive wheels and gripping mechanisms are mounted on the feed chutes. The combination of the guide chutes and the feed chutes with drive wheels and gripping mechanisms provides a compact and simple arrangement for feeding and guiding wires around the compressed bale and interlocking opposite pre-looped ends of each wire to secure the bale.