Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-07-18
From the Albany cultiyaior
Cutting and Curing IIay.

From our notes on the discussion. on
the proper stage for cutting grasses, and the
best mode OF making hay at the seventh
Agricultural meeting in this city, we give
the following:
Mr. Bement said he had formerly been in
the habit of cutting timothy grass quite late
!: was easier cured after it. got pretty ripe.
But he found in using hay thus cut, that it
wanted substance, and he ascertained that
the best time for cutting was while the grass
was in blossom. In making clover hay, he
had adopted Judge Buel's plan. He
thought it best not to expose it much TO the
sun. His practice was to cut it in the NOR
ming, let it lay till noon, and then cock it,
and let it sweat for two or three days accor-
ding to the state Of the weather On put
ting the hay in the barn, he had used about
four quarts of salt to The ton Hay thus
managed came out in the spring very bright
and sweet. In the ordinary way of curing
clover hay, the best parts are wasted.
MIR Howard was aware that there were DIFF
ierent opinions as to the proper stage of cut
ting grass but he thought the observance OF
certain principles might afford guide in the
case For example, the stems of grasses
were filled Just before the formation of the
stance. In perlecting the seed, the stems
were exhausted of this substance, it being
consumed in forming the seed. Now if the
heritage is the object, the plant should be cut
before the nutriment has passed from the
stems If seed is the object, the plant must
be allowed TO attain good degree of matu-
rity. Hay made from ripe grass may go
farther, or spend better, as the argument
is and it is admitted that this may be true
for animals are less inclined TO eat it, but
this is no proof that il is more nutritive.-
He spoke of the different modes Of curing
hay, with nearly all which, he said, he had
been acquainted Clover hay was altogeth-
err better when cured in cock, than by any
other mode he knew practced. All hay
was better for undergoing to some extent a
sweating in the cock Course timothy was
thus rendered much softer, and was less
strawy and stiff, and every description of
hay was less likely to be 'mow burned
Mr. Belts was not in favor of moving Il
great deal of grass while the dew is on
He was in the habit of spreading the swaths
as soon as the ground was dry, and he. al
ways had it well cooked up before night
The next day, if the weather was good he
opened 1t again, fit did not dry enough he
put it together again but his object was to
get it so that il would do 10 put in the barn.
lie sometimes found his hay too much heated
in the NOW From being hurried, he had
occasionally put load in the barn too
green. To stop the heat and fermentation
which had ensued in such cases, he had
made holes in the hay with crow-bar, and
scattered in salt. In this way he had stop
ped the fermentation and saved his hay in
very good order.
Mr. Garreston, Of the Assembly. from
Dntchess county, said he generally cut from
$50 to 200 tons of hay per year-chiehy
timothy and red-top. He generally begun
when the grass was in the blossom. His
method was to cut in the morning, spread
the swarths lightly, and in the afternoon put
it in cocks. The next day, if the sun came
out, it was again spread, and if made
enough, put in the barn, with little salt
sprinkled on it. About three quarts to the
ton was as much as he used. There was
danger of using too much. He had formerly
used more salt, and was satisfied his ami
mails, particularly sheep, had suffered by it.