FOOD 219 



often depends upon its tenderness, flavour, and aroma, 

 rather than on its chemical composition. The latter is 

 found to vary somewhat considerably, depending probably 

 on the nature of the plants of which it is composed. It is 

 placed beyond all doubt that the digestibility of hay cut 

 late is considerably reduced. 



The next rule in hay-making is that the grass once cut 

 should remain as short a time as possible in the field. The 

 sole object of exposure is to dry it, and reduce the 70 per 

 cent, moisture to 16 per cent, or 14 per cent. ; the quicker 

 this can be done the better, and to hasten it the grass is 

 frequently turned and shaken. During this process it 

 should be handled with care, to avoid damaging the waxy 

 covering on the leaves and stems. 



The grass is cocked at night, not only to protect it from 

 any rain and dew, but to give the ground an opportunity of 

 drying, so that the next day's operations may be more 

 effectively carried out. 



With favourable weather hay can be ' carried ' in three 

 days ; it should not be left in the sun longer than neces- 

 sary, or it will become bleached, lose its flavour, and 

 deteriorate. 



The influence of rain is very marked, the most valuable 

 constituents in hay are soluble in water, and these are 

 washed out of it by rain. 



From a veterinary point of view these are the two 

 important points in the curing of hay. 



Hay when ricked undergoes further changes of the 

 nature of fermentation, which improves its flavour and 

 digestibility. If the heating is carried beyond a certain 

 point, as in hay stacked before being properly dried, there 

 is a great loss of proteids and soluble carbo-hydrates, while 

 aldehyde and acetic acid are formed. At the same time 

 there is a change in colour, the hay darkens, and if carried 

 to an extreme point turns a dark-brown colour, known as 

 mow-hurned, due to the temperature within the rick ; it 

 may even end in spontaneous combustion should air be 

 able to find its way in. 



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