HINTS ON RAISING FARM CROPS 43 
northern tier of states, where the growing sea¬ 
son is somewhat shorter, some farmers prefer 
to make only two cuttings, so as to provide for 
good insurance against winter-killing Then 
it is best to wait until the plants are in full 
bloom. However, if left too long, the leaves will 
commence to fall off, and much of the most 
valuable feeding portion of the plant will be 
lost. Anyone who has had the pleasure of 
feeding alfalfa hay to dairy cattle will testify 
to the fact that the leaves of the alfalfa hay 
are greatly relished by the cattle. The cows 
usually eat first as many of the leaves as they 
can get, even to the extent of “nosing out” the 
bulk of the hay on the barn floor in front of 
the manger, before eating the remainder of 
forage. 
v The harvesting of alfalfa deserves a word 
of attention. With the modern side-delivery 
rake, much of the hay is now raked into wind- 
rows, where it is left to cure in a fluffy mass. 
Another splendid way by which alfalfa hay can 
be cured is by the old-fashioned system of put¬ 
ting the hay up in small bunches, or cocks. 
When this method is followed, hay caps should 
be provided, if quality hay is to be expected, 
for a rain storm falling on these bunches dur¬ 
ing curing is bound to spoil the quality. This 
precaution, of course, involves a little more 
labor, but it pays in the long run, except in a 
dry climate where rains are not frequent. 
The value of alfalfa for feeding purposes can 
probably be better realized when it is stated 
that it has a feeding value about equal to ordi¬ 
nary wheat bran. Well cured alfalfa hay has 
