SHRINKAGE IN WEIGHT OF ALFALFA 7 
Table 6. — Comparative losses in weight of 3-pound samples of alfalfa in process of 
curing with leaves attached and with leaves removed, at Redfield, S. Dak., in 
July, 1924 
Loss in weight by evaporation 
(per cent) 
Time from begin- 
ning of test 
Loss in weight by evaporation 
(per cent) 
Time from begin- 
ning of test 
Leaves 
attached 
Leaves removed 
Leaves 
attached 
Leaves removed 
Stems 
and 
leaves 
mixed 
Stems 
and 
leaves 
cured 
sepa- 
rately 
Stems 
and 
leaves 
mixed 
Stems 
and 
leaves 
cured 
sepa- 
rately 
96 hours .. 
51.0 
70.9 
50.6 
70.4 
58.3 
71.9 
28S hours 
70.9 
69.8 
71 9 
192 hours 
In this case the lot with leaves attached and the lot with leaves 
removed but mixed in curing lost moisture at almost the same rate, 
while the lot with leaves removed but with stems and leaves cured 
separately lost moisture considerably more rapidly. This in part 
may have been owing to the fact that the separated material was 
spread out more, thus giving greater opportunity for drying. 
TESTS AT BARD, CALIF. 
A similar though somewhat simplified experiment was conducted 
at Bard, Calif., in September, 1924. At this time of the year the 
alfalfa is often not very vigorous, and some difficulty was encoun- 
tered in procuring satisfactory samples. The plants were nearly in 
full bloom. As the weather was very hot and dry, the plants lost 
moisture so rapidly that the weights were practically at a standstill 
after two days. Samples were dried in the shade and in the sun to 
ascertain the comparative rate of curing under these different condi- 
tions. The results are shown in Table 7. 
Table 7. — Comparative losses in weight of 100-gram samples of alfalfa in process 
of curing in the shade and in the sun, with leaves attached and with leaves removed, 
at Bard, Calif., in September, 1924 
Loss in weight by evaporation (per cent) 
Time from beginning of test 
Leaves attached 
Leaves removed 
In sun 
In shade 
In sun 
In shade 
2}4 hours 
47.0 
67.0 
74.5 
74.2 
28.0 
65.0 
74.3 
74.6 
45.0 
66.6 
72.3 
72.5 
30.0 
17)4 hours 
67.5 
73.0 
68H hours 
73.2 
In this test there appeared to be no appreciable difference in the 
rapidity with which moisture was lost whether the plants were dried 
with the leaves on or off. As might be expected, the plants dried in 
the sun lost moisture much more rapidly in the first few hours. At 
the end of 17 3^ hours, however, the samples dried in the shade had 
lost equally as much. 
