MEADOWS AND MAKING HAY. 423 



harvest climates. When harvesting clovers and other 

 legumes, the method of procedure would, in outline, be 

 as follows: Cut with the mower as soon as the dew 

 has lifted. When the crop has wilted somewhat, run 

 the tedder over the mown hay and probably a second 

 time, with an interval of a few hours between. The 

 mower leaves the crop lying closely on the ground as 

 the horses and mower pass over all the cut portion. 

 The tedder tosses it into the air and in such a way that 

 when it falls down a topsy turvy," it lies more loosely 

 over the ground, so that the air, stirring and passing 

 through it, greatly facilitates quick curing. It is then 

 raked with the horserake, as soon as the rake will draw 

 it easily and cleanly into winrows ; when the rake will 

 not do this satisfactorily, it is too green to be raked. 

 It should be put into cocks ' as soon as raked ; these 

 should be small or large according to the degree of cur- 

 ing in the hay. The higher and narrower they are, 

 compatible with firmness, the more symmetrical they 

 are ; and the more carefully they are combed down 

 around the sides, the more quickly they will cure and 

 the better they will turn rain. One well used to such 

 work will put the hay into such cocks quickly; while 

 the unskilled and careless may spend their time to little 

 purpose by doing the work slowly and in a slovenly man- 

 ner. 



The length of time between the cutting of legumes 

 and getting them put into cocks varies with the weather 

 and the maturity in the hay. Frequently these may be 

 made the same day the crop is cut ; at other times, not 

 until the second day ; and in very bad weather, not until 



