Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-09
CURING CLOVER HaY.

CURING CLOVER HAY.
Clover hay should never be scattered
out Of the swath, because in addition to
the labor in scattering and again raling
up, the hay is thereby greatly injured
Indeed, if the weather be favorable for
curing, neither timothy nor anv other
kind Of hay should be scattered. because
the less any green grass is exposed to the
sun and air in the process of curing, the
greater will be the value of the hay, and
the less the labor required.
Let the clover lay in the swath un-
touched, until about two thirds of the
upper part be sufficiently cured, which in
good weather will, if the swath be tolera-
bly, heavy. be effected in eight or ten
hours; if the swath be light, in a pro-
portionably shorter time. When thus far
cured, turn the swath bottom upwards
with the fork, an operation speedily per-
formed. Let it then lie exposed to the
sun until the under side be cured which
will be, according to the thickness Of the
swath, in from four to six hours; then
throw three swaths together in winrows,
and commence hauling in, the Wagon
running between the two winrows and
loading from each. 1t can hardly be
necessary to observe, that all these opera
tons mus be performed after the dew has
dried of. 1t is to be recolIected that
clover will keep with less drying than
almost any other grass. A common test
is, TO take up bunch of grass and twist it,
if no juice exudes, the hav NAV be hauled
In with safety. We have often hauled in
clover cut in the morning in the evening,
and always the succeeding day, unless
prevented by bad weather. Sprinkling
every layer Of hay with salt, at the rate OF
twelve or fifteen pounds to the ton, or in
terposing a layer of dry straw, from six
to twelve inches thick, between every two
layers of clover of the same thickness, we
found great preventative; and especially
the latter mode will enable the farmer to
put up the hay in a greener state than
could otherwise be done with safety. Be.
sides this advantage, the straw lnterposed
between the layers Of hay. by absorbing
its juices, will be rendered much more
valuable as provender, and if salt be
sprinkled on the hay will be greedily con-
sumed both by cattle and horses. From
the great quantity of this grass produced
on an acre, its highly nutritive quality,
the ease with which it is cut and cured,
farmers will find that clover hay is the
cheapest food on which they can keep
their stock in good order during the win
ter. II put up in good order in the fall,
sheltered from bad weather, and sailed,
both horses and cattle will keep fat on it
alone through the winter, without the aid
Of grain, unless when worked.
The prevalent notion Of the difficulty of
curing clover hay, is entirely erroneous.
In climate like ours, There will seldom
be found any; in wet and cool climate,
like that Of England, the difficulty NAV
exist to some extent, as clover when put
in cocks will not resist rain as wei. as
timothy and some other grasses; but in
the course Of fifteen years experience we
have seldom lost any or had it much in
jured by the weather--indeed we have
found it comparatively easier to save cIo-
yer hay than corn blades, and as three or
four tons of the former, with the aid of
plaster, can be made at less expense than
one ton Of the latter, the farmer must BE-
blind indeed to his own interest, who
does not take care to provide himself with
at least as much clover as will furnish an
abundant supply of provender for his
stock.
Clover should be cut for hay when
about one half Of the heads have become
Of brown color. If cut earlier, it is be-
.lieved the hay will not be 50 nutritious
i later, the stems will have become har-
der, and the grass be on the decline
For hogs, however, and young stock, It
will be advisableto cut some so soon as it
Is in full bloom; when cut in this state
and sailed. hogs are very fond of il, and it
Is believed might be chiefly wintered on
Il, If otherwise carefully protected from
Indictment weather. AT all events, by
the use Of it as food for hogs 10 part, a
great saving ofcorn may be effected.
When the farmer can do il, he will find
a great advantage in providing himself
with long, narrow. and high sheds, omen
At least on the south side for the preserya-
ton Of his clover hay, and when hauling
il ia 10 begin at one end, and spread a
layer Of hay along the whole length of
the shed, and then repeat the same pro-
cess; by this means he will be able to
put nd his hav m much greener state than
could safely be done il put up either in
stack OF NOW, and as yet there are but