THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 65 



We may at times start the mower late in the day, as the dew does 

 little harm on the green herbage. 



AVe must never bunch or place hay in stack or barn when the hay is 

 wet. This fosters mold and does much damage. In rare cases, with 

 uncured hay, heating has been followed by spontaneous combustion and 

 loss by fire. 



SHEDS OR STACKS. 



The hay may be placed in stacks and very rapidly by use of sweep 

 rakes. Derricks are often of great advantage. The stacks should be 

 topped with canvas, hay or millet to shed rain. It is stated that a load 

 of green alfalfa to top the stack serves excellently well, as when cured 

 it is said to protect against rains. Of course, sheds, well roofed, and 

 barns are better than stacks and pay well for their extra cost. For 

 years I have used slings for unloading in preference to forks, as they are 

 more sure and do clean work. 



KANSAS METHODS. 



The Kansas plan of putting green, freshly-cut alfalfa — never at all 

 n-et — in large sheds, with open floors two feet above ground, has proven 

 valuable in careful hands. The shed is large enough so that one cut- 

 ting covci's only to a dei>th of three or four feet. This receives the sec- 

 ond and later the third cutting, etc. The theory here is that the heating 

 of the hay causes the air to rise. This cures the hay and is said to be a 

 marked success. The green alfalfa is heavy and hard to handle, and 

 incaution would cause loss, and possible fire from spontaneous com- 

 bustion might result in great damage. The old way appeals more to 

 me, possibly because of inexperience and consequent ignorance. 



THE SILO. 



Corn is the great crop for silage, but upon occasion alfalfa may Avell 

 fill the silo. If the first cutting, or first cutting of any year, is full of 

 foxtail, local name for Ilordecxim murinum, or if the first or last cutting 

 is wet with showers, then it will pay well to use it to fill the silo. Many 

 in the fall prefer to mix alfalfa and corn in the silo. Silage is a succu- 

 lent appetizing food, which gives it rare value for feeding. 



BALING. 



It often, generally, pays to bale the hay. This costs $1.50 to $2.00 per 

 ton. A power press will bale fifteen to twenty tons of alfalfa a day. 

 Besides the plant it requires five teams and nine men to bale economic- 

 ally. Baling secures ease of handling and is usually an absolute 

 necessity. Only thoroughly cured hay should be baled, and in Cali- 

 fornia it may be baled right from the field. 



PASTURE. 



Alfalfa makes an excellent pasture for stock. Sheep and cattle often 

 suffer with bloat and indigestion unless great care is exercised. If 

 cattle bloat, a piece of wood an inch in diameter fastened in the mouth 

 as a bit often effects a cure. Making the animal jump over a two-foot 

 obstruction may bring relief. A tube passed from the mouth into the 

 paunch, or first stomach, often proves a cure by allowing the gas to 



