SWEET CLOVER : UTILIZATION. 



19 



should be made as high and as narrow as possible, as this will permit 

 better ventilation. In curing, the cocks will shrink from one-third 

 to one-half of their original size. It may take from 10 days to 2 

 weeks to cure sweet clover by this method, but when well cured all 

 the leaves will be intact and the hay will have an excellent color and 

 aroma. When sweet clover is cocked at this time the leaves will 

 cure flat and in such a manner that the cocks will readily shed 

 water during heavy rains (fig. 9). 



FIG. 9. A cock of sweet-clover hay which has cured in excellent condition and retained 



all of its lea VPS. 



When sweet-clover hay is to be stacked it is highly desirable that 

 some sort of foundation be made for the stack, so as to prevent the 

 loss of the hay which otherwise would be on the ground. Several 

 feet of straw or grass are often used for this purpose, but still better 

 is a foundation of rails, posts, or boards placed in such a manner 

 that air may circulate under the stack. 



A cover should be provided for the stacks, either in the form of a 

 roof , a canvas, or long green grass. If none of these means is prac- 

 ticable a topping of perfectly green sweet clover will cure with the 

 leaves flat and will turn water nicely. 



It is well known that hay made from either red clover or alfalfa 

 will often undergo spontaneous combustion if put into the barn 



