274 



FIELD CROPS 



wise, the decrease in value of the clover will more than equal 

 any gain there may be from the timothy. Where the acre- 

 age to be harvested is large, it is necessaiy to begin cutting 

 before the crop has reached the best stage in order to com- 

 plete the work before a part of it becomes overripe. 



Figure 96. — A good crop of hay ready to be hauled to the barn. The hay 

 loader which takes the hay from the swath or windrow is generally used 

 in large meadows. It is not then necessary to place the hay in cocks as 

 shown here. 



Whenever possible, hay should be cut when there is 

 prospect of good drying weather until it can be put in the 

 mow or stack. Conditions frequently make this difficult, 

 but the best quality of hay can be made only when there is 

 the least possible exposure to the weather. Hay that is 

 fairly mature can often be cut in the morning and put in 

 the stack or mow in the afternoon. Discoloration from dew 

 and consequent lowering in market value are thus avoided. 

 The same result can often be obtained bj^ cutting late in 

 the afternoon, so that the grass is still green and full of 

 moisture when the dew falls. It will not then be discolored, 

 and, with the exception of accidental conditions, will cure 



