LEGUMINOUS FORAGE CROPS 195 



hope that it may improve, not realizing that the crop may be 

 destroyed by disease and not realizing that the second crop can- 

 not be obtained until the first crop has been cut. The cutting 

 of alfalfa at just the proper time is one of the most imperative 

 factors in alfalfa growing. 



226. Curing Alfalfa Hay. Alfalfa is a difficult crop to cure, 

 especially in humid climates. Its succulent stems cure slowly 

 and, if handled with tedder, hay rake, or other tools during the 

 process of drying, many of the leaves fall off, reducing the 

 weight and reducing the quality in still greater degree. The 

 first and last cutting come at a time of year when the weather 

 conditions are not favorable to curing any hay. Methods 

 of curing must be practised, which will involve the 

 least possible handling, especially after the hay has become 

 practically cured. Winnowing by means of the clover buncher 

 will reduce the handling. In the western states the side deliv- 

 ery rake is widely used, producing somewhat the same effect as 

 the hay tedder. If teddered at all, it should be done just as soon 

 as the alfalfa has become wilted. In humid climates it should be 

 raked and put in cocks when quite green. The cocks are not 

 greatly injured by rain when put up in this way and will gen- 

 erally cure without molding, except where the hay is in contact 

 with the ground. The cocks must be turned or spread out and 

 rebuilt as often as necessary to prevent molding, which will 

 depend on the condition of the alfalfa and of the weather. 

 In the western states where there is no danger of rainfall the 

 alfalfa is hauled directly to the stack from windrow by means of 

 sweep rakes, commonly called "buck rakes" or "go-devils." (39) 

 As a preventive measure for molding, the Kansas Station recom- 

 mends that the hay be stacked or stored with alternate layers of 

 straw in the proportion of two loads of alfalfa to one of straw. 1 



227. Alfalfa Silage. The difficulty of curing, especially of 



i Kansas Sta. Bui. No. 85 (1899), p. 9. 



