340 



IRRIGATION FARMING. 



FIG. 71- 



barrels set on end in the center of the rick; or rails and 

 boards may be employed, a very good plan being that 

 depidled in Fig. 71. 



This ventilator is made of two i x 3-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 with weights 



at each end, so 

 that they will dan- 

 gle at the sides of 

 the stack. These 

 weights are to pre- 

 vent the wind from 

 blowing the hay to 

 kingdom come, and 

 are just the thing 

 for the rainless region. Stack covers with brass string- 

 eyelets are also good weather prote(5lors, and will pay 

 in the long run. 



The Seed Crop. — There is a little knack in taking 

 alfalfa seed that all irrigation farmers should understand. 

 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, 



-VENTILATOR FOR ALFALFA 

 STACK. 



