194 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



of Texas. The plant is cut with a mower, preferably as early in the 

 morning as possible, in order that drying and curing may quickly be 

 secured. (Tex. B. 137.) 



Injury to Hay by Exposure to Rains. Experiments at the Colo- 

 rado Agricultural Experiment Station have shown that a considerable 

 proportion of the crude protein in hay is soluble and that as much as 

 40 per cent may be lost by two weeks' exposure to rains aggregating a 

 total of about one and three-quarters inches. In this particular ex- 

 periment the protein content of the hay was reduced from 18.71 per 

 cent to 11.01 per cent. This indicates clearly one of the handicaps 

 to the successful production of alfalfa hay in sections of heavy rain- 

 fall during the haying season. Even a slight rain destroys the green 

 color of the hay which is so characteristic of the western-grown hay 

 cured without having been wet. 



Stacking Hay. The use of hay forks and stackers throughout 

 the alfalfa districts makes it possible to build very large stacks. The 

 large size of the stacks is a decided advantage, as a smaller percentage 

 of the hay is exposed to the elements. Alfalfa hay does not shed 

 water readily, and if barn protection or a shed roof is not provided it 

 is commonly the practice to cover the stacks with canvas or with 

 grass hay or millet to shed the water. A load of green alfalfa placed 

 upon the top of the stack will on drying form a good protection to 

 the stack. 



Baling Hay. If alfalfa hay is to be transported any considerable 

 distance, it is usually baled. Otherwise it is fed from the stack or 

 barn. The baling is done either from the windrow or from the 

 stack. If from the windrow care must be taken to have the hay at 

 the proper stage of curing so that it will not be so damp as to heat and 

 spoil or so dry as to lose its leaves. The ordinary bale weighs about 

 90 pounds. 



Spontaneous Combustion of Alfalfa Hay. When alfalfa hay 

 is stacked or put away in the barn too green it is apt to heat and may 

 in extreme cases become so hot as to take fire and burn. In such 

 cases if air can be excluded the hay will not burn for lack of oxygen. 

 If this heating process is not carried too far it results in what is 

 known as brown hay. In this form it is still well relished by stock 

 and apparently loses none of its feeding value. (F. B. 339.) 



Clover Hay. In order to obtain the best hay, the clover crop 

 should be cut, as a general rule, when just past full bloom. At this 

 stage a maximum of protein and dry matter is present, the leaves are 

 still intact, and the stems green. After this stage the leaves begin 

 to fall and the protein content is in other ways reduced. It fre- 

 quently happens, however, that due consideration for the success of 

 tne second crop, which is usually allowed to stand for seed, makes 

 it necessary to cut the first crop somewhat earlier than at the best 

 haying stage in order to avoid injury from certain insect enemies. 

 The disadvantages of cutting hay before it is in full bloom are due to 

 the fact that the young growth is then quite sappy and considerably 

 more difficult to cure into a good quality of hay. 



The methods of harvesting red clover hay vary somewhat in 



