8 PROFITABLE DAIRYING 



THE HAY CROP 



" How do you prepare and handle your hay crop ? " 



" I seed for hay August 20, never before. I take 

 off the crops of oats and peas from the land, and 

 give it a thorough coating of manure, putting in a 

 reversible sulky plow, and breaking it up thoroughly. 

 I harrow and reharrow many times. I do not believe 

 that land can be in a too finely pulverized condition 

 for seeding. I use a seeder, and go over the land 

 both ways, so as to insure a very thick and uniform 

 stand. I use six quarts clover, five quarts timothy, 

 two and one-half pounds alsike, and one pound red 

 top per acre. This I know is a pretty large amount, 

 but in fifteen years I have never missed a single 

 crop, and have invariably had a good stand. I al- 

 ways count on cutting three crops from my hay 

 fields each year. 



" The first cutting is made in June, when the 

 clover is just in bloom ; the second about six weeks 

 later, when the clover is in bloom the second time. 

 This, however, depends somewhat upon the season. 

 Five or six weeks later the third crop is cut. I cut 

 my hay in the afternoon and leave it in the swath 

 a short time only. It is then put in windrows, and 

 shortly afterward in cocks, where it is left from two 

 to two and one-half clays. These are opened, if the 

 weather is favorable, and the cocks are doubled. If 

 the hay is in prime condition, I then stir it a second 

 time, and put four cocks in one. It is left here a 

 short time before being hauled to the barn or put into 

 the rick. 



"When it is handled the cock is upset, and the 

 hay is taken from the bottom and aired. This opens 



