HAY MAKING IN RAINY COUNTRIES. 321 



Internal moisture from the stems and leaves will not 

 do half the harm that dampness of rain or dew will. 



The Sweating of Hay Mows. — When one puts in a 

 mass of alfalfa hay in the right condition it is sure 

 to become hot and this heat makes vapor, almost 

 steam. This rises and condenses on the top layer of 

 hay, making it moist. Thus there may be a little 

 moldy hay on the very top of the mow. It is well 

 to put on a layer of very dry hay at the last, if this 

 is convenient. One need not feel troubled or anxious 

 about his hay merely because he finds it sweating 

 and some condensed steam on the top layer. 



Spontaneous Combustion in Hay. — Alfalfa hay 

 put in with considerable moisture in the stems be- 

 comes intensely hot in the mow. It may be only hot 

 enough to cure nicely or it may, if put in too green, 

 become hot enough to ignite. I once stacked hay in 

 October when because of humid weather I could not 

 get the hay dry. At length in despair it was put in 

 the stack in a very moist condition. A large rick was 

 built of it, only half cured. This rick heated to such 

 an extent that part of it was charred, some was made 

 into excellent silage and, with the exception of a 

 very little mold, the rest was excellent brown hay. 

 It is notable that 'Stock like better this brown hay 

 than hay that is dried so that it cures with the 

 green color. The fact is the great heat developed in 

 curing under-dried hay partly cooks it; there is a 

 loss in carbohydrates, but the hay is richer than ever 

 in protein and no doubt more digestible. 



