310 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



some semblance of its natural condition it is most 

 efficiently carrying away the sap of tlie stem, but 

 when it has dried up it no longer aids in drying 

 the plant at all. Therefore, the best hay in all re- 

 spects is made partly in the shade, in loosely turned 

 windrows, in narrow cocks. 



Raking the Hay. — This indicates the use of the 

 side delivery rake. It is an admirable tool for help- 

 ing cure hay. One can lay it up in loose windrows, 

 hidden in part from the burning sun, yet penetrable 

 by the air and do a good deal of curing there. 



We do not make much use of the tedder. There 

 are times when it should be used in very heavy hay, 

 when very green and the earth wet underneath. The 

 danger with the tedder is that one will use it too late 

 and knock off showers of leaves. Careful use of the 

 tedder is helpful; indiscriminate use of the tedder 

 may do great injury. 



The rake should always be started before the 

 leaves are dry enough to crumble. Alfalfa leaves 

 are worth about $25 per ton. They are worth as 

 much, pound for pound, as wheat middlings. One 

 must plan to save them. 



There are occasions when unavoidably parts of 

 the field will become too dry to rake without losing 

 most of its leaves. Then let it alone till the sun has 

 gone down. Almost instantly the leaves will regain 

 their elasticity, and one can rake without losing 

 them. The writer has done this several times and 

 secured beautiful hay with nearly every leaf, giving 



