Harvesting the Hay Crop ' 615 



return at noon. An extra man is frequently needed in the field to 

 mow about the fences; he can assist in loading, thus keeping all 

 of the teams busy. These loads are unloaded by the bam gang, 

 which consists of two men, a boy, and a team, after dinner, while 

 the field gang goes out and loads the first load. 



The hay is put on with a loader, two men being employed. A 

 man (preferably the farmer, who can then keep things moving at 

 both ends) takes the third wagon and team to the field, bringing 

 back the first load to be unloaded by the gang at the bam, return- 

 ing to the field with an empty wagon. Thus no time is lost run- 

 ning back and forth. Our afternoon stunt is a load every twenty 

 minutes. 



The three wagons may be left unloaded over night, allowing 

 the bam gang to milk or do other chores, and affording work in 

 the morning before the hay is fit to cut. One heavy horse will 

 serve to unload the hay. The other, driven by a boy, may then be 

 employed on a rake to clean up the scatterings. 



