BULLETIN 1424, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 4. — Losses in weight of 100-gram samples of alfalfa in process of curing 
with leaves attached and with leaves removed, at Redfield, S. Dak., in August, 
1924 
[The records of weights for the first three days were lost] 
Loss in weight by 
evaporation (per 
cent) 
Time from beginning of test 
Loss in weight by 
evaporation (per 
cent) 
Time from beginning of test 
Leaves Leaves 
attached removed 
(average (average 
of 2 of 4 
samples) samples) 
Leaves Leaves 
attached removed 
(average (average 
of 2 of 4 
samples) samples) 
53. 25 61. 75 
61. 66. 9 
63. 5 68. 
66. 25 70. 
67. 73 70. 4 
219 hours 
69. 71. 
243 hours 
69.37 71.1 
267 hours 
292 hours 
69. S8 71. 4 
70.37 ! 
A second test was begun August 17, 1924, at the Kedfield field 
station. The results are reported in Table 5. In the weights here 
reported the petioles are included with the leaves. In certain other 
tests the leaflets only were removed, leaving the petioles attached 
to the sterns, but since the comparative shrinkage in weights showed 
no material difference the figures have not been included in this 
table. 
Table 5. — Comparative losses in weight of 100-gram samples of alfalfa in process 
of curing with leaves attached and with leaves removed, at Redfield, S. Dak., in 
test begun August 17, 1924 
Less in weight by evaporation 
(per cent) 
Time from be- 
ginning of test 
Average of two samples 
Leaves 
Time from be- 
ginning of test 
at- 
tached 
Leaves 
Stems 
Leaves 
moved 
only 
only 
22.0 
25.0 
17.7 
25.6 
46.0 
51.5 
47.3 
51.45 
56.5 
61.75 
55.6 
61.9 1 
63.5 
67. S7 
62.4 
m :: 
Loss in weight by evaporation 
(per cent) 
Leaves 
at- 
tached 
Average of two samples 
Leaves 
re- 
moved 
Stems Leaves 
only only 
20 hours 
47 hours 
71 hours 
95 hours 
119 horns. 
143 hours. 
167 hours. 
6S. 71. 25 
70. 5 72. 5 
72. 75 75. 50 
72.3 
72.3 
74.35 
Here again the samples with leaves detached lost moisture more 
rapidly than when they were allowed to cure in the natural condition. 
and as might be expected the stems lost moisture less rapidly than 
the loaves, though the two finally reached about the same weight. 
On July 29. 1924. three 3-pound samples of alfalfa were taken at 
Redfield, S. Dak. One sample was left to cure with the leaves on. 
but the leaves were removed from each of the other samples, one lot 
being allowed to cure with the leaves and stems mixed and the other 
lot with the leaves and stems separated. Unfortunately, no weights 
were taken the first four days, but the results obtained after that 
time are given in Table 6. since they conform closely to the results 
obtained with the smaller lots. 
