Sweep Rakes 



The Cornfalfa Farms are among the few east of the Mississippi 

 that make use of sweep rakes. With them the hay is shoved out of 

 the windrow to the stack, where it is elevated with slings and a two- 

 pole stacker. Haying in this way is very rapid. It is not only 



Fig. 60. Sweep Rake in Action. 



Shoving the ha\ from windrow to stack. 



pleasant for the operator of a sweep rake, who may ride in a canvas 

 seat back of the team, but the nice green alfalfa hay accumulating 

 in front of the horses gives them an inspiration to go forward! 



Green and Brown Cures 



When alfalfa is stored in the mow or stack it will maintain its 

 bright green color if it has been thoroughly cured in the cock or 

 windrow under favorable weather conditions. When it is stored a 

 little on the green side, while the stems still contain a considerable 

 amount of the plant juice, heating and fermentation occur in the 

 stack and a very aromatic and palatable brown hay results. 



To avoid excessive heating by storing alfalfa when it is a little too 

 green it is well to distribute the hay at the time of storage over 

 several bents in the barn instead of piling it up high in one mow. 

 To avoid misunderstanding I repeat that it is positively dangerous 

 to store any alfalfa hay if it contains moisture from dew or rain, 

 because spontaneous combustion may result, or a charring or mold- 

 ing which will be entirely disastrous to the feeding value of the hay. 

 The interior moisture of the stems and leaves of ordinarily cured hay 

 will not cause this difficulty. 



The practicability of the various ways of getting alfalfa hay in 

 condition for the mow or stack will depend entirely upon the locality, 

 climatic conditions, the ultimate use and value of the hay. Just 

 what method should be used is largely a matter of business judg- 

 ment. 



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