36 
BULLETIN 1388, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Much of the extra labor needed, in%order to put up the hay quickly, 
is supplied by the farmers themselves. Several of them form a hay 
crew and help to put up each others' hay. This method of exchang- 
ing labor should be encouraged, as it reduces expenses and makes 
available experienced and reliable labor. 
1 
1 I 
1 
w?\ 
W% Z77X 
-J— 
\tmi 
| | 
1 1 ^H__ 
j^j 1^2 
JAN. 
FEB. 
MAR 
APR 
MAY JUNE JULY 
NOV. DEC. 
I Labor usually done by 
I farmer and family 
AUG. SEPT. OCT. 
V/A Labor usually hired 
Fig. 10.— Distribution of labor for principal field operations on 1 acre of alfalfa by half-month periods i 
CONDITIONS 
Yield: 5 tons per acre. 
Equipment used: 6-foot spring-tooth harrow and three horses; 8-foot spike-tooth harrow and 2 horses; 
ditcher and 2 horses; 5-foot mower and 2 horses; 10-foot rake and 2 horses; 2 sleds and 4 horses; stacker. 
Material requirements per acre. 
Fig. 11.— The alfalfa hay is raked and made into small shocks soon after cutting. This saves a 
large portion of the leaves and small stems because of less handling and slower drying 
On account of the low rainfall and dry climate, the hay is stored 
outside in stacks, and baled when sold. Carefully made stacks not 
only are a pride to the farmer, but they considerably reduce the waste 
from weathering. 
*The data from which this chart was made, as well as other information on the principal field opera- 
tion for alfalfa, appear in the following table: 
Item 
Unit 
Renovate 
Corrugate 
Irrigate 
Mow 
Rake 
and 
bunch 
Shock 
Stack 
Times over ._ _ 
Number 
2 
7 
2.8 
8.4 
3 
3 
8 
3.6 
7.2 
3 
16. 
1.8 
3.6 
3 
7 
4.2 
3 
7 
1.4 
2.8 
Man labor per acre- 
Hour ... 
4.5 
12 
Horse labor per acre.. 
do 
12 
Date performed 
Usual two- 
week period. 
Mar. 16 
to 31. 
Apr. ltol5 
Apr. 1 to 
July31.« 
(1) June 1 to 15; (2) July 
16 to 31; (3)Sept.ltol5. 
a As soon as water is available in the spring and immediately after the first and second cuttings. 
