236 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



the air do a good deal of drying. In these cocks the 

 hay will often finish its drying perfectly. Often it is 

 wise to open them during the heat of the next day after 

 cocking, and let them lie in about six flakes exposed for 

 a time to sun and air. If very damp it may be turned 

 once and then hurried into the barn or rick. It must not 

 be allowed to remain in the cock too long, else the 

 alfalfa below will turn white. This method is cheaper 

 than it sounds; men trained to the work will cock hay 

 astonishingly fast and once in the cock it defies most 

 weathers, especially if cocked green, as advised, because 

 then the stems droop so as to turn off water from the 

 clouds. 



Use of Hayloaders. Because labor is so hard to get, 

 men find the hayloader a profitable help. It is not so 

 safe to use with alfalfa as with other hays, but if used 

 intelligently little loss may follow. One should have a 

 side-delivery rake, turning the hay over lightly and loose- 

 ly, into long, smallish windrows; then after they have 

 sunned somewhat more, follow with the hayloader and 

 with no great loss put the hay on the wagon. 



How Dry Must Alfalfa Hay Be? If one is placing 

 only two or three tons in a mow one must have the hay 

 dry, else there will be often a disagreeable dusty mould 

 appear. If one is placing 50 tons, more or less, together, 

 one can have it more moist, since the heat evolved in 

 curing will destroy the mould germs. Our test is to take 

 a wisp of the dampest of the hay and twist it as hard 

 as we can. If moisture exudes, the hay will likely spoil 

 in the mow; so we dry it further before storing. If no 

 moisture can be seen, even though it feels tough, we 



