422 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



particles of soil. The same is true of such crops as 

 cow peas or soy beans. The wisdom, therefore, of get- 

 ting mown hay into well put up cocks, as soon as possi- 

 ble after it has been mown, is clearly apparent. 



Notwithstanding th^t the very best hay is thus made, 

 much good hay is made by curing it in the winrow or 

 in bunches, made from the winrow by the aid of the 

 horserake. In fact more hay is cured by this process, 

 than by the other and in many instances the practice 

 is not only justifiable but commendable; it is not only 

 labor saving but enables the haymaker to do the work 

 so much more quickly that the hazards from losses of 

 exposure to rain and from the overrnaturing of a portion 

 of the crop are lessened : the cost of harvesting is very 

 materially reduced. The time and labor called for in 

 putting hay into cocks are no more than would be re- 

 quired to put it on wagons ready for removal ; when 

 placed in cocks, the hay cannot be put upon wagons by 

 the hay loader, as it can when made in wirirows. The 

 loss of quality in the hay, therefore, by this mode of 

 curing may be more than made up in the benefits accru- 

 ing as stated above. 



It is relatively more important that clovers and other 

 leguminous hay plants be cured in cocks than that the 

 grasses proper be cured thus; since when cured other- 

 wise, they lose more leaves, part with more of their 

 aroma, take much more injury from rain and dew; 

 when thus cured, the danger from over fermentation in 

 the mow is also lessened. The practice, therefore, which 

 aims to cure these in the cock is to be commended, un- 

 less hi time of settled harvest weather or in rainless 



