304 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
whether in swath, windrow or cock, brings it un- 
aided to the mow or rick, leaves it there and with- 
out waiting for it to be unloaded goes afield for an- 
other load. Thus one man with a pair of horses 
will bring as much hay to the barn or rick if the 
haul is short as would four men and four horses 
with the hay loader. Furthermore these rakes 
gather the hay with the least possible loss of leaves 
since it is simply lifted up, pushed together and 
carried to the unloading place. 
Hay Sleds.—The eastern farmer may not have 
use for either hay loader or sweep rake, because of 
the small size of his fields). He can use a simple 
hay sled to good advantage. These sleds are best 
made of boards %”’ thick of some hard wood if in 
the hard wood country, or they may be of ordinary 
%’’ stock boards. A size of 6’ wide and 12’ long is 
good. Make exactly as you would a barn door. 
Hitch a horse to the front end. It is well always to 
let these sleds rest when not in use with the front 
end supported on a stake about 24” high. This 
makes it warp or curve a little and thus it draws 
easier. 
On these simple and inexpensive sleds an ac- 
tive man will load an incredible amount of hay in a 
day, and a small horse can easily draw it to the stack 
or barn if the distance is not too great. There it is 
either unloaded by simply pushing it off, or the 
horse stops while the forks lift the hay. 
Lifting to Stack or Mow.—Getting the hay from 
