MEADOWS AND MAKING HAY. 425 



pea hay. A second pair is in due time placed 3 feet 

 from the ground and similarly laden. A third pair is 

 placed 6 feet from the ground, and likewise laden to the 

 top of the pole. These little stacks, not more than 6 

 feet across, are covered with crab grass. This is only 

 one of many devices, used in the curing of cow peas. 



Caps may advantageously be used in curing clover 

 hay, in showery weather, when the quantities to be cured 

 are not large. They may be made of strong cotton cloth, 

 also of other material, about 4^ feet square, with pegs 

 attached to the corners or some kind of weight, as a 

 smal^ stone sewed in each corner. When in use, they 

 are spread over the cocks, and the pegs ' are fastened 

 into the hay at the sides of the cocks or into the ground. 

 One work-hand should apply them as fast as two put 

 up the hay. When not in use, they should be carefully 

 laid away and, if made of good material, should last for 

 as many as a score of years. In time of heavy rainfall, 

 however, they fail to preserve the bottom of the cock, 

 from serious injury, from the absorption of moisture 

 from beneath. 



The plan of storing clover and cow pea hay, as soon 

 as a little wilted, has been tried and, in many instances, 

 with success. The crop is cut and wilted a little and is 

 then drawn and tramped down firmly into mows. Care 

 is taken not to store any of it when wet with dew or rain. 

 The principle involved is much the same as in making 

 ensilage. The requisite conditions, however, must all 

 be carefully observed or serious loss may follow ; hence, 

 the unskilled, in this, method of curing hay, should thor- 

 oughly post themselves regarding all the details requi- 

 Grasses — 28. 



