METHOD OF CUTTING HAY 275 



earlier in the day than hay that is not cut till the following 

 morning. 



351. Method of Cutting. Practically all the hay in the 

 United States is now cut with the mower, though small 

 acreages of swampy or rocky land in New England and else- 

 where are cut with the scythe. Ordinary mowers cut swaths 

 from 5 to 7 feet wide. One-horse mowers are made which cut 

 a 33^ or 4-foot swath, but usually two horses are used with 

 a machine cutting 5 or 6 feet in width. Cutting a swath more 

 than 6 feet wide is hard work for two horses, and it is also 

 difficult to keep long cutter bars in line. 



352. Curing. The length of time required to cure a crop 

 sufficiently for storing depends on the stage of maturity of 

 the crop, the particular plant or plants which are to be made 

 into hay, the yield, and the weather conditions. No general 

 rules can be laid down. The point is to get the hay diy 

 enough for storing with the least possible loss of food value 

 and palatability. The food value may be reduced by wash- 

 ing by rains, by bleaching from rains or dews, by the loss 

 of leaves and other tender parts when the crop is too mature 

 or too dry for handling, and by the molding or rotting of the 

 hay. Curing in the windrow or in the cock is desirable in 

 order to prevent much loss of leaves, particularly in clover 

 and alfalfa hay. Clover hay should not be handled more 

 than is absolutely necessary after it is cured. 



The use of modern machinerj^, such as side-delivery rakes 

 and the hay loader, does away entirely with the cock, for the 

 hay is taken up directly from the swath or the small windrow. 

 This plan is often necessary on account of the scarcity of 

 labor, but it is generally followed at a sacrifice in the quaHty 

 of the hay. Curing partially in the swath and then raking 

 it into cocks, which should be rounded up with a fork, if 

 there is danger of rain, will give the best quality of hay. If 

 hay of particularly high quality is desired in humid sections, 

 the cocks should be covered with canvas covers. 



