300 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
shoots if they get long will be clipped off by the 
mower and thus growth retarded again. So as soon 
as these basal shoots appear one should begin cut- 
ting. Thus several mowers may be a good thing. 
The keynotes of success in making alfalfa hay in 
the arid West are to mow off promptly when it is 
time to mow; to rake before the hay is dry enough 
to lose its leaves; to let it dry somewhat in the 
windrow and then cock in large cocks, or bunch with 
the rake if labor is too dear or scarce for hand cock- 
ing, and then to hurry it into mow or stack. 
Alfalfa leaves are worth about the same as wheat 
bran, a little more, in truth, and one must struggle 
always to manage so as to save them; therefore the 
carly raking, and also careful handling afterward. 
In the arid West one can bale alfalfa hay right 
from the fields if he so desires. This he can seldom 
do in the East. 
Curmg for the Mow.—A simple test of dryness 
will seldom lead a man astray. It is to take a wisp 
of the most moist hay he can find in the windrow or 
cock and twist it hard as one would make a hay 
rope, twisting it nearly to the breaking point. If 
he can see no moisture whatever exude from the 
stems he may put the hay up, no matter if it is 
tough. If any visible moisture exudes he had better 
dry it further else it may mold. . 
Making Green or Brown Hay.—In the West it is 
often possible to cure hay that will come from the 
mow or rick with a lovely green color, as fresh and 
