THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 543, 19 February 1913, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

LUCERNE HAY. Lucerne is more difficult to cure, and greater loss occurs when improper treatment is given, than is the case with any other kind of hay crop.

Buvers in the city eagerly snap up hay that is bright, green, dry, free from weeds and rubbish, and that contains a large proportion of leaf, while anything indicating careless handling in the field or the slightest heating in the bale, causes them to reject the lot, or to only accept it at much reduced prices. Lucerne should be cut just after the first flowers have appeared. The usual rule is to cut when about one tenth is in bloom. At that stage the stem and leaf development is greatest, but after flowering the nutriment in the stems and leaves is withdrawn and transferred to other portions of the plant, with the result that the stem harden and Decomes less digestible as feed, while the leaves which are the richest, and therefore, the most valuable part of the plant wither and fall off. The lucerne grower who cuts at the wrong time, therefore, loses in quality as well as in weight, and further, he affects the growth of the succeeding crop, the young shoots being liable to damage by the mower.

It frequently happens that, owing to cool weather, the first growth of the season does not flower early, and the leaves begin to drop, and the stems to harden before the blooms appear. The crop should, therefore, be carefully watched, and the cutting made as soon as the lower leaves begin to change colour.

Another trouble with first crops is the large quantity of moisture they often contain, compared with other cuts. If the weather is not suitable for drying off a very sappy crop, the hay should be put up in narrow cocka, and left until no trace of moisture can be detected.

It is among this clasa of crop that spontaneous combustion generally occurs, and extra care should therefore be adopted, the hay being stacked outside, or away from the barns, if necessary.

The usual practice is to start the mower going in the morning, as early as nossible, but if a heavy dew is on the crop the work should be delayed until it has evaporated. If the day is fine the rake should be started about midday, so that the cut crop wlil be raked into the windrows before nightfall, for hay should not be allowed to linein the swath too long. In hot, scorching weather it should be raked into windrows almost immediately after cutting, sb heat causes rapid drying of the tender leaves, while the stems will remain sappy, and in that condition a large amount of leaf will shake off. From 45 to 50 par cent, of good hay should consist of leaves, and from the point of view of quality as well as of weight, these rruat be preserved. The aim of the grower should be to ensure the evaporation of moisture from the stem as well as from the leaves. The leaves continue to transpire moisture after they are cut. but if they are exposed to the heat they dry very rapidly, while the stem remains sappy. If, on the other Hand, evaporation through the leaves can be maintained they gradually transpire, not only their own moisture, but also that in the stem, and a more even cure is the result. In the cocks, the leaves are protected from the direct rays of the sun and the evaporation of the moisture from stem and leaf is more uniform. Cured in this way, hay is sure to keep well in the stack, while if it is dried in the swath or window it is almost sure to blacken. After a few hours in the windrows therefore, the hay is put into cocks. In cool, fine weather, half a day in

the windrows is not too long but in hot scorching weather cocking Bhould be done almost at once, whilst in cloudy, dull weather it is left for one to two days. There is some art in making lucerne cocks so that they will throw off rain, and prevent the loss of the leaves in the subsequent handling. The hay is not Bhaken into a heap, but one forkful is built over the other, turning each forkful aa it is put on, as only harvesters say.. "Turn our fork." In the rolls so obtained, a whole cock can afterwards be lifted on a single fork on to the dray, and later on similarly forked on to the stack, without the lobs of a leaf. If the lower hay in the cocks inclined is to be a little damp, the cocks are moved an hour or two just before carting in, so as to expose the bottom hay. In some States of America capa made of canvas or cloth, and measuring about 14 feet square, are tied over the cocks to protect the hay while drying. In districts where the weather is not suitable for drying, these caps are very useful. This must not be done while there is any possibility of combustion, or mould, but on the other hand, it must not be delayed, or the hay will dry too much, and there will then bB loss in weight, digestibility, palatablity, and appearance. Generally speaking, in our best lucerne dsitricts, over drying ifl the chief danger. The stage at which the hay is ready for stacknig is not easily stated, but if the stems are still sappy and moist it is not ready. Generally it is in the proper condition when it has a crisp feel in the hand, rather than a dead damp feeling. Lucerne hay should be placed in a shed if at all possible. If stacked in the open ample protection from weather is necessary.

Ventilation should be provided for the bottom of the stack, a foundation of poles being a suitable means of doing this. The centre of the stack should be kept high to prevent rain running in at the sides, for the hay does not shed rain Well.

If brown hay is desired, and there are those who claim for it certain advantages over green coloured hay, though it brings a lower price on the market, it should be stacked about one day earlier than it would be tor green hay.—Notes of New South Wales Department of Agriculture.