294 FIELD CROPS 



acreage to be harvested is large, it is necessary to begin 

 cutting before the crop has reached the best stage in order 

 to complete the work before a part of it becomes overripe. 

 Whenever possible, hay should be cut when there is 

 prospect of good drying weather until it can be put in the 

 mow or stack. Conditions frequently make this difficult, 

 but the best quality of hay can only be made when there is 



Fig. 92. A good crop of hay ready to be hauled to the barn. The hay 

 loader which takes the hay from the swath or windrow is generally used in large 

 meadows. It is not then necessary to place the hay in cocks as shown here. 



the least possible exposure to the weather. Hay that is 

 fairly mature can often be cut in the morning and put in 

 the stack or mow in the afternoon. This avoids discolora- 

 tion from dew and consequent lowering in market value. 

 The same result can often be obtained by cutting late in 

 the afternoon, so that the grass is- still green and full of 

 moisture when the dew falls. It will not then be discolored, 



