300 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



shoots if they get long will be clipped off by the 

 mower and thus growth retarded again. So as soon 

 as these basal shoots appear one should begin cut- 

 ting. Thus several mowers may be a good thing. 



The keynotes of success in making alfalfa hay in 

 the arid West are to mow off promptly when it is 

 time to mow; to rake before the hay is dry enough 

 to lose its leaves; to let it dry somewhat in the 

 windrow and then cock in large cocks, or bunch with 

 the rake if labor is too dear or scarce for hand cock- 

 ing, and then to hurry it into mow or stack. 



Alfalfa leaves are worth about the same as wheat 

 bran, a little more, in truth, and one must struggle 

 always to manage so as to save them ; therefore the 

 early raking, and also careful handling afterward. 



In the arid West one can bale alfalfa hay right 

 from the fields if he so desires. This he can seldom 

 do in the East, 



Curing for the Mow. A simple test of dryness 

 will seldom lead a man astray. It is to take a wisp 

 of the most moist hay he can find in the windrow or 

 cock and twist it hard as one would make a hay 

 rope, twisting it nearly to the breaking point. If 

 he can see no moisture whatever exude from the 

 stems he may put the hay up, no matter if it is 

 tough. If any visible moisture exudes he had better 

 dry it further else it may mold. 



Making Green or Brown Hay. In the West it is 

 often possible to cure hay that will come from the 

 mow or rick with a lovely green color, as fresh and 



