100 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



put on top of each cutting to protect the alfalfa from 

 rain. Almost any kind of a shed or covered structure 

 is preferable to a stack. 



CONDITIONS FOR STACKING 



If the hay is to be stacked, there are also special condi- 

 tions that the experienced insist should be observed. This 

 is not to say that alfalfa hay stacked under conditions 

 quite different may not give fair results, and much 

 depends on the locality and the climate. Hov^ever, the 

 result desired is palatable and nutritious hay and not such 

 as is moldy, stack-burned or dusty. Stacking the hay 

 directly on the ground is sure to mean a loss of some por- 

 tion of it. Elevate the bottom of the stack with poles, 

 timbers or other like material ; put straw^ at the bottom 

 and, preferably, build a rick rather than a round stack. 

 Start the bottom sixteen or eighteen feet wide and build 

 straight up instead of tapering or slanting the sides, as 

 alfalfa hay will not shed rain or snow water. If there is 

 much moisture and it is convenient to do so, use a layer of 

 straw or dry hay of some kind every five or six feet. Keep 

 the stack full in the middle, or a little higher than the 

 sides, and well tramped all the time. When the stack has 

 reached the. desired height, top it out with slough grass, 

 or dry timothy or prairie hay, or very green alfalfa, or 

 protect with tarpaulins or boards; the boards may be 

 nailed and chained together, lapped and weighted at 

 the corners, making a very satisfactory roof. If these 

 directions are followed, the losses will be kept at a min- 

 imum. The Kansas experiment station authorities say 

 that in an experiment made there an application of 



