The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-08-03
,High-Grade Hay
in Good Demand
Producers of Alfalfa Could
Make Money by Watch
ing Markets.
prepared by the United States Department
Of Arritu1furet

prepared by the United States Department
Of Agrieuiturel
A iHnch-,.iarger quantity of high
grade alfalfa could be profitahly mar
keted In the United States Ii pro-
dncers would study market demands
and then make their production and
loading practices conform to the mar
ket requirements, according to Ed
ward q. Parker. hay marketing special
list Of the United States Department
of Agriculture.
Great numbers Of dairymen who do
not now utilize much alfalfa hut de-
pend largel. on mill feed for pro-
TEN. he says, would become buyers Of
alfalfa II supplies of high grade alfalfa
were available AT all times. Many
farmers are intermittent sellers of low
grade. surplus hay hut comparatively
few specialize in -tiies production of
higll-gr;ideS market alfalfa.
Purity. u high percentage Of leaves.
clinging foliage. green color, and pill
able stems are the essential characters
of high grade alfalfa. The experience
Of federal hay inspectors is that the
most common causes, of low grade ar
alta are meadows With thin stantis,
foreign material in the FORM Of part
" decayed Rulings, weather damage,
oyer-ripeness at time of cutting. over
drying, baling undercurc,l hay. stack
ing distinctly underc,retl hay, and
baling during very hot, dry. or windy
weather.
Alfalfa for flarket. -
In most instances, Mr.. Parker says,
alf;dfa intended for market should
he cut when one-tenth 10 une-fourth in
bloom. or when new growth starts from
The crowns irrespective of the bloom.
There will be little, if any, Increase of
tonnage gained by allowing the crop
to stand longer. At this stage OF ma,
turity the leaves usually. constitute
anywhere from rs per cent to 5S per
cent of the total weight of the plants.
and the stems have not become OBJ
jactionably hard and woody. The grade
of United Suites Number. | alfalfa
can he attained in practically all al
faIfa districts of the United States
when crops are cut at. this stage Of
maturity. providing the hay is prop
erly cured and baled and not subject
ell to much damage from the elements.
Essential points in preserving leaf
ness and color and preventing over
drying are "a to facilitate rapid evap-
Grafton of q large part OF the moisture
in The newly m0wn hay ny exposing 1t
to the sun and wind in the swath
where the rate of evaporation is faster
than in the win,lr0w, bunch or cock.
and i2} to perform the operations Of
raking and windrOwing while the hay
is tough and the leaves are not easily
shattered.
ice Of Side Delivery Rake.
Tie side delivery rake, Mr.. Parker
says, is specially adapted to making
windrows Of wilted and tough alfalfa
that will aerate and cure uniformly
with the minimum loss of leaves and
color. Average crops of alfalfa hay
wlied in the swath will cure almost
as quickly in side-deliyery rake win
drows MS Though fully cured in the
swath and the grade of the hay is
much superior. The side-delivery rake,
lie declares, is an essential machine
in the production of high grade alfalfa
detailed account Of hay making,
curing and baling practices in the
United States, together with recon-
mendati0ns as to the best methods of
performing these operations has been
published by the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture in mimeograph
pamphlet written by Mr.. Parker. and
entitled "High Grade Alfalfa, Methods
of Production. Baling. and Loading for
Market" Copies may be obtained by
writing the bureau of agricultural
economics, United States Department
of Agriculture. Washington. D. g.