HARVESTING 85 



small cocks. These stood through two days of heavy 

 rain. Later the cocks were opened and found to be 

 unharmed, and after one day the hay was put into stacks 

 in excellent condition. This was a somewhat unusual 

 circumstance, surely, and might not often occur in a 

 climate less dry than that in some parts of Colorado. 



THE USE OP HAY-CAPS. 



Any man who goes into the business of raising alfalfa 

 anywhere in the rain belt cannot well afford to ignore 

 hay-caps as a part of his equipment. Comparatively the 

 cost is slight and the trouble of using them small con- 

 sidered in the light of their great utility, although the 

 expense, and the use and care of them may at first blush 

 appear to be quite formidable. American haymakers 

 do not seem to appreciate the bad effect of dew upon the 

 color and aroma of all kinds of hay. Prof. F. H. Storer 

 in his "Agriculture" (Vol. Ill, p. 559) says: "One 

 advantage gained by the use of hay-caps to protect the 

 cocks during the night, is that they Hold in the raked-up 

 warmth, and keep the hay from cooling off. Thus it 

 happens that the hay not only improves a little as to dry- 

 ness during the night, but is all ready to dry rapidly 

 when the cocks are again exposed to the air and sun- 

 shine, on being uncovered in the morning. All this as 

 a normal and constant benefit, to say nothing of the 

 advantages derived from the caps in case light rains, or 

 even heavy rains, should fall before the cocks are again 

 opened. The caps keep dew from settling upon the hay, 

 moreover, and thus prevent the loss of aromatic matters 

 that would result if the dew were to dry off from the 



Xl'O'Ym •••«•• 



