+22 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



particles of soil. The same is trne of such crops as 

 cow peas or soy beans. The wisdom, therefore, of get- 

 ting mown hay into well put up cocks, as soon as possi- 

 ble after it has been mown, is clearly apparent. 



^^otwilhstandiiig thi,t the very best hay is thus made, 

 much good hay is made by curing it in the winrow or 

 in bunches, made from the winrow by the aid of the 

 horserake. In fact more hay is cured by this process, 

 than by the other and in many instances the practice 

 is not only justifiable but commendable; it is not only 

 labor saving but enables the haymaker to do the work 

 so much more quickly that the hazards from losses of 

 exposure to rain and from the overmaturing of a portion 

 of the crop are lessened : the cost of harvesting is very 

 materially I'cduced. The time and labor called for in 

 putting hay into cocks are no more than would be re- 

 (|uircd to put it on wagons ready f(jr removal ; when 

 placed in cocks, the hay cannot be put upon wagons by 

 the hay loader, as it can when made in wiurows. The 

 loss of quality in the hay, therefore, l)y this mode of 

 curing may be more th.Tu made up in the benefits accru- 

 ing as stated above. 



It is relatively more important that (/lovers and other 

 leguminous liay plants be cured in cm ks than that the 

 grasses pro])er be cured thus: since Avhen cured other- 

 wise, they lose more leaves, part witli more of their 

 aroma, take much more injury from rain and dew; 

 when thus cured, ihe danger from over fermentation in 

 the mow is also lessened. 'Jlie practice, therefojx-, Avhicli 

 aims to cui'e tliese in the cock is to be cimnnended, -un- 

 less In time of settled har\-(st weather or in rainless 



