HAY MAKING IN RAINY COUNTRIES. 821 
Internal moisture from the stems and leaves will not 
do half the harm that dampness of rain or dew will. 
The Sweating of Hay Mows.—When one puts in a 
mass of alfalfa hay in the right condition it is sure 
to become hot and this heat makes vapor, almost 
steam. This rises and condenses on the top layer of 
hay, making it moist. Thus there may be a little 
moldy hay on the very top of the mow. It is well 
to put on a layer of very dry hay at the last, if this 
is convenient. One need not feel troubled or anxious 
about his hay merely because he finds it sweating 
and some condensed steam on the top layer. 
Spontaneous Combustion in Hay——Alfalfa hay 
put in with considerable moisture in the stems be- 
comes intensely hot in the mow. It may be only hot 
enough to cure nicely or it may, if put in too green, 
become hot enough to ignite. I once stacked hay in 
October when because of humid weather I could not 
get the hay dry. At length in despair it was put in 
the stack in a very moist condition. A large rick was 
built of it, only half cured. This rick heated to such 
an extent that part of it was charred, some was made 
into excellent silage and, with the exception of a 
very little mold, the rest was excellent brown hay. 
It is notable that stock like better this brown hay 
than hay that is dried so that it cures with the 
green color. The fact is the great ‘heat developed in 
curing under-dried hay partly cooks it; there is a 
loss in carbohydrates, but the hay is richer than ever 
in protein and no doubt more digestible. 
