Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-01-04


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 is matured. When cut,
better hay is 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 If the
oncOming shoots are cut off growth Is
checked and the maturity of the fol
lowing crop delayed. On the other
hand. if 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 off. although many cut
whenever most convenient. Moving in
the late evening is favored by not a
few, who claim that the nights dew
on the fresh alfalfa has no effect. In
the drier climates and sometimes else
where in dry seasons the curing of al
falfa is comparatively simple. Then
the struggle is to prevent it becoming
SO dry that the leaves will drop, for 1t
should be remembered that the leaves
are by far the most valuable part Of
the plant; well cured they are worth
more than wheat bran in the feeding
ration. Hence it is imperative that
shatter and put in large cocks If pos
sible. Bunching 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 is extensive
iy grown. Another important reason
for raking early is that 1t is through
plant is evaporated in curing. If 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 windows, and then storing
when fit Is the plan to be commended,
A reasonably good test of its fitness
for storing Is to take a wisp Of the
hay from the inside of the cock and
twist it. If no juice exudes it IS ready.
The greatest problems In haymaking
are presented by a 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
---u ~tfoJfc I'LL Ar~~. 90 ~rnko~ ~,,txn
well. BY opening and turning the,
cocks the next day. provided the
weather Is suitable, the hay may be
ready for stacking in the afternoon.
OF course under right conditions it
may be left In the cock longer. When
alfalfa has beer once dried and then
rained upon the greatest damage is
done. Also 1t should be exposed to
dew as little as possible. Some con.
slider the tedder useful In curing, es
pecially where the crop is heavy, but
it must be employed with judgment o.
many leaves will be kicked of. 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 NJ curing is re-
quired when intended for the silo.
Shelter is always a consideration,
and to provide 1t is n of the best
investments that a be made where
the hay crop is an important feature.
A barn is the best and a 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. It may
be said here that there are less waste
and loss I'm the same quantity Of hay
In a large stack than IL 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 Is too much loss from
moldy and rotten hay In the bottoms
Of stacks built on the earth. A rather
narrow. high stae'. with good sized.
uniform bulge. properly drawn in and
topped out with wild or other hay, is
well adapted TO shedding rain.