458 Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



The most economical way is to bale from the windrow. Here again 

 judgment must be used. We have learned that hay can be baled as green 

 as when stacked, but "judgment" again must be used in caring for it after 

 the baling. It is a fact that if hay is put in large stacks or put in the 

 mow with a fork, that where the large forkfuls fall it will shatter the 

 leaves and press down so hard that it will exclude the air and cause the 

 hay to burn, and will come out brown instead of green; whereas, if it is 

 baled instead of stacked, piled on edge in the same position that it comes 

 from the press, and piled loosely to- allow air to pass through the pile, 

 this hay will be in better shape than the hay that is put loose in the 

 barn. The difficulty in putting hay loose in the barn and baling after- 

 ward is, first, the extra expense; second, it is hard to find a time when 

 the hay can be baled to save all the leaves like when it is raked at the 

 right time and baled from the windrow. 



FIG. 370. Usually the baler is kept busy all the afternoon, and the bales are 

 covered with tarpaulins over night, and hauled-in the next morning by the extra 

 men, while the mowers are busy getting down more hay. 



It is usually the case that the baler is kept busy all the afternoon, and 

 that bales are covered with tarpaulins over night, and are hauled-in the 

 next morning by the extra men, while the mowers are busy getting down 

 more hay. When hay is to be piled in the field overnight, loose hay should 

 be piled under the bales to keep moisture from being drawn from the 

 ground. In storing baled hay, unless it is good and dry, it should be piled 

 in the barn loosely to prevent heating, and later repiled more closely if 

 storage room is scarce. 



The first crop of alfalfa hay is, as a rule, not salable early in the 

 season, and should be sold in the winter season for best results. This 

 crop is best adapted for horse and mule feeding, as it is richer in protein 

 than the later crops. To bring the best price alfalfa hay must be cut 

 before the stems get harsh. The dairymen will not use harsh or woody 

 hay, but will pay fancy prices for "soft," fine-stemmed alfalfa. Our 

 farmers here feed the off -colored alfalfa, having learned that the color 



