HARVESTING 37 



stacks the next. The side-delivery rakes, loaders, or 

 buckrakes, and hay-forks, or stackers, are used, so there 

 is very little hand-hauling. When cured disturb as 

 little as possible, as there is always a loss of leaves 

 from handling. The hay can be put into stacks or mows 

 when the stems are quite tough, or flexible, with little 

 danger of damage; if the precaution is taken to sprinkle 

 salt on the hay at the rate of ten to fifteen pounds to the 

 ton it can be safely stacked while quite damp. Air- 

 slacked lime at the same rate also lessens danger of 

 ' ' burning ' ' in the stack. It will be found that alfalfa 

 hay can be stacked much damper than is commonly 

 .supposed, and one of the secrets of handling is to never 

 let it get thoroughly dry until stacked. The leaves 

 are of more value than an equal weight of wheat bran. 

 If the hay gets too dry and the leaves shatter badly in 

 raking, it is advisable to leave it and rake early in the 

 morning when the dew is on. 



Sheds for hay are good investments, but when the 

 hay must be stacked in the open, the stack should be 

 made narrow at the bottom and run straight up, or, 

 better, bulge somewhat, until of a convenient hight to 

 begin topping it out. Stack-covers of lumber make a 

 great saving; tarpaulins or long slough-grass can be 

 used advantageously, or in case none of these are to be 

 had, the stacks can be topped with the green hay two 

 feet in depth. This packs down and forms a much 

 better protection than the cured hay, and, being on top, 

 cures and becomes good hay itself. 



Occasionally a season is so wet as to make stacking 

 or storing in barns impossible, especially the first cut- 

 ting. This may be in a measure overcome by stacking 

 with alternate layers of dry straw. The straw is made 



