498 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
the windrows into large bunches or cocks. Thence 
the rakes take it to power hay presses or balers and 
it is compressed lightly into bales at the rate of 20 
to 30 tons per day. It is found best not to make the 
bales very large or heavy. It is then loosely piled 
to let the air circulate through the bales as much as 
possible and sent to market. The human hand has 
‘not moved the hay until it is thrown into the hay 
press. It is estimated that when things work well 
alfalfa is taken from the green state to the finished 
bale for under $1 per ton. Naturally, bad weather 
interferes with this system of haymaking, and 
often the quality of hay thus secured is inferior, a 
large proportion of the leaves having been left in 
the field. The plan may be the best one for the pres- 
ent time on large plantations with insufficient labor, 
and for a market not very critical. Baling hay from 
the windrow would hardly succeed under northern 
skies, as the heat of the sun is so much less and the 
latent moisture is so much harder to dry out. 
Johnson Grass and Alfalfa—tIn this region one 
sees a great deal of that rank strong-growing peren- 
nial grass called Johnson grass. It is usually mas- 
ter of all other crops and has taken possession of 
many a plantation. Alfalfa grows well with it and 
gains on it. Grown together neither yields alto- 
gether, but alfalfa has rather the better of the con- 
test. Alfalfa and Johnson grass hay mixed make 
admirable forage. 
Selma Chalk as a Source of Limestone.—The soft, 
easily decomposed limestone called Selma chalk, 
