Haymaking at Kenai Experiment Station

Abstract

During the haymaking season the weather along the Alaskan coast is generally so unfavorable, with prolonged intervals of rain, a sun whose beams are daily growing weaker, and shortening hours of work, that the statement has often been made that the curing of hay in Alaska is impossible. A study of the weather record seems to confirm this statement. There are three conditions, however, applicable to the Cook Inlet region (and it is believed the first two at least will apply to the whole coast region) that tend to simplify the task of hay curing. First. The manner of precipitation. The rains are never dashing, but fall for the most part in a gentle drizzle. Owing to this, an ordinary cock of hay will withstand a long siege of rainy weather without becoming wet except for a distance of 3 or 4 inches from the surface. Second. The low temperature, which allows green or damp hay to remain in the cock for several days without heating or molding. Third. The southwest winds. The winds are always dry, of high velocity, and blow continuously night and day for three or four days at a time, thereby preventing dew and frost. These winds are more effective than the sun as a drying agent at this time of year. As a clear sky is almost without exception contemporary with a southwest blow, the value of these winds in haying time can be appreciated. Since the inauguration of the work at this station in 1899 the stock belonging to the station have been fed nothing but native feed. This has consisted almost exclusively of hay, and enough of it has always been cured to winter the stock comfortably. During the last two years the station has had about 25 acres under cultivation, and the bulk of this has been given over to growing grain hay. Special attention has been paid to hay curing during this time, and the following notes and deductions therefrom are written in the belief that they will be of practical value to the Alaska pioneer.