96 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



spread the first cutting over the entire bottom, filling up 

 to a height of four or five feet. The second cutting 

 may be placed over this, on top of a layer of straw, and 

 the third cutting over this. There is virtually no danger 

 from spontaneous combustion or from mold if this is 

 done, and the hay will be as bright and green and almost 

 as rich in protein in January as when harvested. 



J. W. Berry of Jewell county, Kansas, member of the 

 board of regents of the state agricultural college, uses 

 this method and bales his hay in October for the city 

 markets, finding it in perfect condition. He puts his 

 hay into the mow green but not wet, direct from 

 the cocks, or windrows the day it is cut, in layers 

 about four feet deep, with the slightest possible loss 

 of leaves, no bleaching and no injury by dew. In 1905 

 he cut his alfalfa four times and stored the fourth 

 cutting on top of the three preceding. He says that 

 having an open floor and plenty of air from the out- 

 side, the hay can be put in the barn as described; that 

 it should not be tramped, and it will settle and cure per- 

 fectly. The bottom layer or first cutting may show some 

 dust when taken out if handled loose, but the color will 

 be good and it will bale in with the other cuttings and all 

 grade well. Hay cured in this way in 1904 graded 

 "choice" in the St. Louis market. 



Spontaneous combustion does not occur very often, 

 but it is a possibility, and it is well to bear in mind that 

 hay may be put in the barn too green. Observation 

 teaches that it never takes place unless the hay has been 

 put in the barn while containing a large amount of mois- 

 ture, and piled too deep. Alfalfa and other clover hays 



