INTRODUCTION. 43 



when the young alfalfa is pushing up ; even though 

 the alfalfa might he destined for pasture everything 

 is kept off until it has made good growth, and is 

 nearly knee high and almost come into bloom before 

 stock is turned in. Gloriously beautiful the fields be- 

 come in May, and as June draws near we watch them 

 to see how nearly they are approaching harvest. 

 We have long ago learned not to regard the bloom- 

 ing of the alfalfa as being an essential indication of 

 maturity, but only we suspect that it is ready for 

 cutting. We get down upon our knees in the field, 

 and parting the stems look to see whether small buds 

 have appeared at the surface of the ground. If 

 these buds or shoots are pushing out, showing that 

 the plant is ready to make new growth, then the 

 mowers come out, three of them, each cutting swaths 

 6' wide, and with merry rattle the beautiful green 

 forage is laid low. 



Not much use is made of the tedder on W^oodland 

 Farm, since it shatters off the leaves too much, al- 

 though sometimes it is employed when the crop is 

 very succulent and heavy. Before the alfalfa is dry 

 enough for the leaves to shed off, the rake is started 

 and the hay gathered into small windrows, which 

 are then piled into slender but fairly tall cocks by 

 the use of the hand fork in the old-fashioned way. 

 Bather a jolly time haymaking is, with all the men 

 and boys on the place busy in the field, with merry 

 callings to and fro and sometimes the note of a song, 

 yet it is a busy place too. Seldom can the hay be 

 drawn in the same day as it is cut down, and not al- 



