Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-21

GETTING ALFALFA HAY IN BARN.
moving whenever the buds or new
shoots at the root crowns are well
started.
These shoots are the beginning of
the new, crop and indicate that the
other growth IL matured. When cut.
better hay il produced. the new growth
starts quickly and the next cutting will
come on speedily. Delay in harvesting
the first crop especially may mean one
less cutting In the season, for II the
oncoming shoots are cut OF growth Is
checked and the maturity Of the fol-
lowing crop delayed. On the other
hand. II cut before the appearance OF
these shoots the experience has been
that injury will result.
1t Is preferable to cut alfalfa when
the dew is of. although many cut
henev pr NEST convenient. Moving In
the late ev, ling is favored by not
few, who claim that the nights dew
on the fresh alfalfa has no. effect. In
the drier climates and sometimes else
where IN dry seas. ns the curing OF al
falfa ia comparatively simple. Then
the struggle Is to prevent 1t becoming
SO dry that the leaves will drop. FOR It
should be remembered that the leaves
are by fnr the most vaiuab BILE part OF
the plant: well cured they are worth
more than wheat bran in the feeding
ration. Hence 1t ii imperative that
the hay be raked before the leaves
shatter and put In large cocks II pos
sible. punching with rakes and then
stacking or stacking direct from the
windows Is not uncommon In the
west In order to save time and econ
omize labor where alfalfa il extensive
ly grown. Another important reason
for raking early IL that 1t IL through
the leaves that the moisture In the
plant is evaporated in curing. II dried
up they will not perform this function.
and the result is poor hay.
Doubtless for the highest quality OF
alfalfa. the kind that would bring top
prices, curing In the old fashioned
way of putting into cocks. after rak-
Ing into ,windrows. and then storing
when fit Is the plan to be commended
A reasonably good test Of its fitness
for storing Is to take wisp OF the
hay from the~iirside of the cock aud
twist 1t. II no juice exudes 1t is ready.
The greatest problems In haymaking
are presented by Il rainy country.
Here alfalfa should be put in narrow
cocks the same day preferably as cut.
Rain coming the following night will!
do little or no harm. and the cocks. Of
green alfalfa will turn or water quite
well. BY opening and turning the
cocks the next day. provided the
weather Is suitable. the hay may be
OF course under right conditions II
may be left In the cock longer. When
alfalfa has been once dried and then
rained upon the greatest damage IL
done. Also II should be exposed to
dew as little as possible. Some con-
slider the tedder useful In curing, es-
peeially where the crop Ia heavy. but
1t must be employed with judgment o.
many leaves will be kicked off. On
small areas or where hay Is dear the
use Of hay caps will be found profit
able. and where rains are abundant the
first cutting especially Is often nova
days ensiled. which saves the entire
crop. for practically no curing is re-
quired when intended for the silo.
Shelter Is always consideration,
and to provide 1t Is one Of the best
Investments that can be matie where
the hay crop is an important feature.
A barn IL the best and hay shed the
next best place for storing. Great
quantities Of hay. however. are
stacked In the open, which brings to
the fore the art OF stacking. 1t may
be said here that there are less waste
and loss in the same quantity Of hay
In a large stack than II It were put In
smaller ones. 1t Is desirable to pro-
vide some sort of foundation for the
stack In order to keep the alfalfa of
the ground and at the same time per.
NIT the free circulation Of air under
meath. There IL too much loss from
moldy and rotten hay In the bottoms
Of stacks imilt on the earth. 4 rather
narrow. high stack. with good sized.
uniform bulge. properly drawn in and
topped out with wild or other hay. Is
well adapted to shedding rain.