The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-06-14
Making Alfalfa
Hay Requires
Exact Methods

Il.
valuable as alfalfa is, II has its
s,avbacks 1t is difficult to establish
,o some parts of the country, especi-
.,,v IN the eastern States. 1t requires
,.reful methods oil handling. 1t is no
,.or for the careless farmer; but is
.0,v profitable one for the farmer
.no will take the trouble to learn
how TO handle it from the seeding to
,he feeding. one of the important
,hings to learn is just how to make
.,saIfa hay, according to specialists
~ the United States Department of
Agriculture
Alfalfa does not cure at all readily,
and good quality hay is hard to get.
rspecially is this true of the first cut
,,ry which comes when heavy rains
.re ant to interfere with its proper
euring. The bright green hay so
common in the irrigated sections is
almost never seen in the humid reg
ions due to injury from rain.
Most farmers are prone to cut their
alfalfa too early. They are anxious
10 get more cuttings, thereby think
ing to get bigger crop. The fact
s the extra cutting is frequently
made at the expense OF total tonnage.
The real test OF the size of the sea-
sons crop is total tonnage rather
han number OF cuttings. Where
four cuttings are possible, three us
ually are more desirable and more
prohtable. More hay is actually made
for the season; and the plants are
left in better condition for the win
er
The first growth usually is rank,
sometimes causing the farmer TO
hink It should be cut before It real
y is ready The stage of growth is
he indication for cutting rather than
he size of the plants. The general
rule is to cut alfalfa just as IT Is com
linz into bloom and the basal shoots
Are making a good start for the next
crop In eastern states. cutting ear
ier may injure and frequently kills
he plants. Cutting later lowers the
Needing value of the hay.
Methods Of making alfalfa hay vary
in the different sections OF the coun- |
ry but the basic principles are the
same The motto everywhere is:
rCure alfalfa hay quickly, with as
little handling and exposure to the
Weather as possible Rapid curing
holds the leaves on better. Less
handling knocks fewer of them off. |
This is important because the leaves
sre the most nutritious part of the |
plant
In the west where there is little |
pain during the haying season, the |
Xnowers are started In the morning |
snd the hay raked into windrows the |
following day. The hay is then cock
ed or is stacked or baled direct from |
he windrow az soon as the hay is |
Fuffieiently cured. The raking COM
&nences as soon as the leaves are wilt |
pa, but when the stems are still |
green. 1t is cooked when the stems |
pre- half dry" 1t may be stacked
rhen moisture can no longer be
visited out Of wisp of the hay.
In the humid sections OF the coun-
fy the process Of curing the hay is
much more difficult. The cutting fire.
lently must be delayed several days
y account Of bad weather. Tho OpeT-
lions and methods are practically
ne same as in the dry sections, ex-
cpl that more time is required. Hay
a% and stack covers may prove
ecessary.
High moisture content sometimes
makes II desirable to stack alfalfa
ay Instead OF putting it in the barn.
DIS is especially true OF the first
qtllng Build stacks carefully and
shape that will expose as little
'he hay 10 the weather as possible.
over the tops with marsh grass,
adan grass, millet, or some other
Oag grass that will make a good
aatch, Anchor a well-made thatch
I'D rocks on the ends OF wire on
ppoi properly made stack and the !
| Will keen almost as well as in the
arm In fact, it may keep better, ON
count o' The likelihood Of now
ualia hay heating In the NOW. Par
eular care must be taken at the
VIZ cutting on this account.
The hay is put in the NOV, 1t is
a TO provide for some extra ven
@uon, especially If It's moisture
'nlent is high. This can be arranged
placing horizontally at frequent
MWridlg VGUtfIa fora fnada of linn her