MAKING VETCH HAY 117 



both implements, should buy a swathe-turner of the 

 type which can be used as a swathe-turner, tedder, 

 or side-delivery rake. 



The modification in our ideas of hay-making 

 referred to are necessary in connection with the 

 saving of an ordinary hay crop, and as regards vetch 

 hay, they are essential for success. 



THE WRITER'S EAY- SAVING METHOD 



The writer's general plan for saving vetch hay is 

 as follows: — First, so far as possible, cut the crop 

 when the dew has practically dried off. Then, when 

 the dew is completely dried off the top of swathe, 

 get at once the swathe-turner to work, keep the stuff 

 constantly turned, giving the crop about three turns 

 in the first day, and two more in the early part of 

 the second day, in the afternoon of which the crop is 

 gathered in. 



This gathering-in consists of throwing the two 

 swathes together with the swathe-turner and thus 

 forming wind-rows. Next, a tippling slide rake is 

 used to run the wind-rows into heaps, and from the 

 heaps so gathered pikes, cocks, or wynds are made. 



For such quick work as the foregoing, fine sunny 

 weather is needed. If, at the time, we are not 

 blessed with such weather, the same principle, 

 nevertheless, is followed, that is, the swathes are 

 constantly being turned. In other words, we take 

 advantage of one of the biggest features of a swathe- 

 turner, viz., getting the crop air-dried in the absence 

 of sun. 



Sometimes a shower of rain or the falling dew 

 holds up the work at the hand-cocks stage, so that it 

 is not possible to run the hand-cocks together to make 

 pikes. Under such conditions the hand-cocks should 



