Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-09

rules are not always and at all times
reliable, but taken with other indicar
tions, such as the shedding of the IN
der leaves and a slight change in color
to a lighter or more yellowish green
will make a safe rule as to when to
start the mower.
Alfalfa. on account OF its many pc
cularities. can not be harvested like
any other hay crop. 1t Is the better
plan to start cutting in the morning
as soon as the dew is of and choose
if possible a day when there Is good
prospect OF three or four fair days to
follow. The first cutting of alfalfa usu
ally comes In this country during he
early part of June at time when the
weather is apt to be still unsettled
and this Is one Of the problems to be
met IN making the most Of crop OF
alfalfa After II is cut, it must be
protected from rain and dew as mu"h
as possible as either will discolor toe
hay and while this does not impair
very seriously its feeding value, Its
market value is sure to be reduced.
I Great care must be exercised in hand
| ling alfalfa so that the leaves will not
( be shattered or broken of.
at is said about IS per cent Of the
weight and protein of the plant is
| in its leaves and must therefore be
/ handled very carefully. It should be
/ left lying as cut down only long enough
/ to wilt. If left long in the hot sun
/ the leaves would become very dry and
parched and perhaps sunburned.
Alfalfa hay can be safely stacked
/ or moved away with more moisture in
/ it than the grower unfamiliar with this
/ particular crop would believe The
/ sun is not the great curing agent Too
much exposure to the hot sun makes
the curing more unsatisfactory. Even
after the plant is cut the moisture is
! drawn from the stalk and evaporates
| through the leaves and this action
would, of course. be impossible if the
/ leaves were burned TO a crisp by the
sun. Hay cured as much as possible
/ in the shade is the most satisfactory,
( therefore, as soon as it is we'll wilted.
| il should be raked into loose windrows
and aired a while and then put it in
a narrow cock for more curing
The cocks should be changed and
| in changing turn the hay over and re-
shock, as if left standing in one place
/ too long they are liable to smother
and injure the rapid growing plants
under them. When cured disturb as
little as possible, as there is always a
, loss of leaves from handling. If the
hay is damp and flexible, sprinkle with
salt to the amount Of 10 pounds to
/ the ton and you can safely stack or
NOV while quite damp.
in regard TO outside stacking,
! have had no experience, as | have
plenty of barn room yet for what hoy
il raise Life is too short and time
too valuable to tell all about harvest
ing this wonderful crop; common
sense when the time comes to handle II
will teach the average man how to
best harvest the crop. but it seems the
old fashioned method of caring for al
ordinary hay crop, such as windrOwing
and shocking are peculiarly adapted &c
caring for alfalfa.
ITO close, l would quote from F. D
Colburn. who is probably the creates
living authority on alfalfa:
"'Cut in early bloom
Handle as little as possible
prevent its being wet after cut
ting
Cure partly in the swath, partly
in the windrow, partly in the SHOCK
and partly in the stack OF NOW
Protect with hay caps in resior
Of frequent rains. This NAV he con
sidered expensive, but the value 0f the
product will justify the expense -
Illinois Farmers Institute Bulletin.