98 CLOVERS 



cures more easily and readily than clover. It may 

 also be taken up with the hay-loader when cured 

 thus, which very much facilitates easy storing. But 

 when it is to be lifted with the hay-loader, the win- 

 rows should be made small rather than large. 



When the clover is to be put up into cocks, these 

 should be small rather than large, if quick curing is 

 desired. In making these, skilled labor counts for 

 much. The cocks are simply little miniature stacks. 

 The part next to the ground has less diameter than 

 the center of the cock. As each forkful is put on 

 after the first, the fork is turned over so that the 

 hay spreads out over the surface of the heap as it is 

 being deposited. Smaller forkfuls are put on as the 

 top is being reached. The center is kept highest 

 when making the cock. Each one may be made to 

 contain about 100 pounds and upward of cured hay, 

 but in some instances they should not contain more 

 than half the amount to facilitate drying. When 

 the heap has become large enough, the inverted fork 

 should be made to draw down on every side the loose 

 portions, which in turn are put upon the top of the 

 cock. Such trimming is an important aid to the 

 shedding of rain. An expert hand will put up one 

 of these cocks of hay in less time than it takes to 

 read about how it is done. 



A light rain will not very much injure a crop of 

 clover after it has been put up into cocks, but a 

 soaking rain will probably penetrate them to the bot- 

 tom. To guard against this, in localities where the 

 rainfall may be considerable in harvest time, hay 

 caps are frequently used. These may be made from 



