HAY MAKING IN RAINY COUNTRIES. 313 
from approaching storm or nightfall a lot of hay, 
and this can be all unloaded at leisure next morning 
when dew is on the grass, or it may be showering. 
Opening the Cocks.—The hay in the cock will be 
left unopened till the dew is well off and the outside 
of the cocks well dried, say till 9 or 10 o’clock. 
One can never lay down cast iron rules for 
hay making. The hay in the cock may not 
need opening at all, but the chances are that it 
will if it is to go in at once. Sometimes it can be left 
for a few days in hot, dry weather and it will per- 
fectly cure in the cock. I do not often do this; it is 
taking too much chance. By 10 o’clock, if the day is 
fair, men are busily opening the cocks that were laid 
up the evening before. With timothy hay one tears 
it all apart and scatters it as much as possible when 
he opens it. With alfalfa, on the other hand, one lifts 
it tenderly and puts it out in three, four or more 
large flakes, just as the cock was laid up—this to 
avoid loss of leaves. These flakes lying under the 
midday sun soon dry. After dinner maybe they will 
need turning over once. This is very rapidly done. 
Then one man goes along and lays them in cock 
again, just as he would pile up buckwheat cakes. 
This is done very fast indeed, and the hay laid up 
again goes right on drying. Wagons follow and it is 
taken as fast as possible to the barn. Late in the 
day there may be more hay to rake and cock. 
This is the system followed on Woodland Farm, 
and almost no hay is lost no matter how it rains. 
