310 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
some semblance of its natural condition it is most 
efficiently carrying away the sap of the stem, but 
when it has dried up it no longer aids in drying 
the plant at all. Therefore, the best hay in all re- 
spects is made partly in the shade, in loosely turned 
windrows, in narrow cocks. 
Raking the Hay.—This indicates the use of the 
side delivery rake. Itis an admirable tool for help- 
ing cure hay. One can lay it up in loose windrows, 
hidden in part from the burning sun, yet penetrable 
by the air and do a good deal of curing there. 
We do not make much use of the tedder. There 
are times when it should be used in very heavy hay, 
when very green and the earth wet underneath. The 
denger with the tedder is that one will use it too late 
and knock off showers of leaves. Careful use of the 
tedder is helpful; indiscriminate use of the tedder 
may do great injury. 
The rake should always be started before the 
leaves are dry enough to crumble. Alfalfa leaves 
are worth about $25 per ton. They are worth as 
much, pound for pound, as wheat middlings. One 
must plan to save them. 
There are occasions when unavoidably parts of 
the field will become too dry to rake without losing 
most of its leaves. Then let it alone till the sun has 
gone down. Almost instantly the leaves will regain 
their elasticity, and one can rake without losing 
them. The writer has done this several times and 
secured beautiful hay with nearly every leaf, giving 
