ALL ABOUT ALFALFA. 233 



will be found very convenient. In stacked alfalfa more 

 or less combustion takes place, and it is best to provide 

 ventilators, which may be of headless barrels set on end 

 in the center of the rick ; or rails and boards may be 

 employed, a very good plan being that depicted in 

 Figure 66. 



This ventilator is made of two Ix3-inch strips nailed 

 three inches apart by crosspieces, so as to form a sort of 

 open box. If a board 

 roof is not desired, 

 the top of the stack 

 may be anchored 

 with fence wire cut 

 in suitable lengths, 

 and these burdened < <r i * r ~ <^f 



with weights at each FIG< &* VENTILATOK Foit ALFALFA STACK. 



end, so that they will dangle at the sides of the stack. 

 These weights are to prevent the wind from blowing the 

 hay to kingdom come and are just the thing for the 

 rainless region. Stack covers with brass string-eyelets 

 arc also good weather protectors, and will pay in the long 

 run. 



The Seed Crop. There is a little knack in tak- 

 ing alfalfa seed that all irrigation farmers should under- 

 stand. In cutting the seed do not let it stand till dead 

 ripe, as one-third will rattle off and waste. Cut when 

 the head is handsomely brown and the stalk not quite 

 dead. There will then be scarcely any waste and the 

 seed will be as plump. Many people in gathering alfalfa 

 seed waste at least one-fourth by allowing it to stand too 

 long before cutting. Cut with a mower or reaper, a 

 mower is preferable. Some attach a drag apron and throw 

 off in bunches of medium size and in windrows. Do not 

 handle it much after it is put in the windrows, as all this 

 tends to rattle the seed out of the legumes, and much of 

 it will be lost in this way. Stack in convenient piles, or 



