Show Cure Alfalfa in Windrow or Cock Feeding Value Increased Because More of Leaves Are Retained Prepared by the United State Department Department Depart Depart- ment mane of Agriculture There Is a popular belief that alfalfa al falfa aima and other hays has cure more rapidly rapidly rap rap- idly when handled so as ns to keep the i leaves In a fresh condition until the stems have haye lost mu much h of their mois mois- ture This belief rests on the assumption assumption tion that so long as the leaves are not dry they continue to draw or pump the moisture from the stems It Is partly because of ot this theory that curing curIng cur cur- Ing In the windrow has been so com commonly com coni money advocated says the United States Department of ot Agriculture Retains More Leaves It Is generally recognized that hay cured In the windrow or cock does retain re re- tamp tain more of Its Us leaves thereby in increasing increasing In in- creasing Its feeding value alue So far for as can be ascertained however no experiments experiments ex ex- ex have bare hitherto been conducted conducted con con- ducted to determine whether or not the leaves actually aid In la removing water from the stems With this In mind some tests were begun In 1924 1034 and continued In 1925 1035 H 25 by department Investigators ID the results of which are discussed In Department Bulletin No D. 1 Samples alfalfa of alfalfa were taken and weighed Immediately Some of them were left to cure In the natural condition con con- that that Is with the leaves on on- on while the leaves were picked from others b by hand were made at nt Intervals to determine the r rapidity with which the various samples lost their moisture In every ery case where the leaves lea were removed remo from the stems the alfalfa dried out somewhat more rapidly ly than where It was allowed to cure in its natural state that i is with the leaves on The difference was not great and aud just how much of this Is due to handling canno cannot be easily determined I However Howe It Is perfectly clear from the data that alfalfa in the quantities used In the tests cures at least as rapidly with leaves removed as with them attached which Is contrary to the popular belief Fallacy of Popular Theory These extensive tests would seem to o Indicate the fallacy of the popular theory concerning the pumping act action n of the leaves but this need not necessarily necessarily change the practice of ot curing Iring hay lay In the windrow or cock Some other explanation must be made for forthe forthe forthe the beneficial results of the practice however A A copy of this bulletin may be secured secured se se secured cured as long as the supply lasts by writing to the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment of Agriculture Washington D. D C. C |