Crotalaria for Forage


 Drying in Swath.-A part of the Crotalaria intermedia which
was cut on September 21 was left in the swath. The plants had
dried well and were hauled to the barn on September 28. The
leaves and stems had cured well, except that the color had
bleached considerably. Part of the hay cut on September 21 was
spread on the barn floor, and stirred twice during the drying
process. After nine days the hay was not completely dried, but
this small quantity was stored in the loft with the other hay. The
branches of the plants prevented packing, and allowed sufficient
circulation of air to prevent molding. In all cases the leaves shat-
tered badly on naturally cured hay made from C. intermedia. Hay
cured in the swath shattered much more than when cured in the
shade, or in the shock. The most satisfactory hay was obtained
when the freshly cut crotalaria was bound in bundles, shocked
with not more than 6 bundles per shock, and capped as protection
against rain.
 A further study was made of the two methods of drying in
1933, using crops of Crotalaria intermedia cut in (a) the prebud
stage, (b) bud stage, and (c) bloom stage.
 On July 30, 1933, nine rows of Crotalaria intermedia were cut
with a mower at a height of about 6 inches from the ground.
Three rows were bound by hand into bundles about 6 inches in
diameter at the band. Stems of the crotalaria were used for
bands. The hay was set into shocks of 6 bundles each, thus allow-
ing plenty of opportunity for air circulation. The shock was then
capped with a single bundle to shed rain. The weather was dry
during this period. The hay cured fairly well except for some
mold in the center of the larger bundles and in the denser part
of the shock. As in the previous year, the leaves bleached and
shattered badly.
 A second portion which was left in the swath dried thorough-
ly in 9 days, but was bleached badly. The hay which had been
cured in the shock shattered less than that cured in the swath.
 On August 24 plots of crotalaria were cut in the bud stage
just previous to the opening of the first flowers. Part of the hay
was shocked and allowed to cure. Another part was cured in the
swath. This test was repeated on September 14, when the
crotalaria had reached the bloom stage.
 None of the hay made from Crotalaria intermedia would be
considered high quality hay, although a fair quality was obtained
when the plants were harvested in the earlier stages. When har-