Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-07-08

HAY-MAKING.

In the making or curing OF nay, the HrSt
things to be considered are the proper pc
RODS of cutting the grass, and the length of
time and modes adopted to cause it to dry.
On these points, practical men do not agree;
some preferring to cut when in full flower,
by means of which, they say, they obtain
more and better hay, and the crop is less
exhausting to the land while others con-
slider it best to permit the grass to stand un-
til the seed has just ripened sufficiently to
vegetate, which will be more or less scat
tered for the benefit of the succeeding crop,
and the hay, it is thought, is more nutri-
tious, and consequently will afford more
flesh and strength.
Lucerne and clover, undoubtedly, afford
better and more hay when cut in the flow
er,and is better adapted for dairy stock than
when cut late; but to avoid loss in weight
and quality, by heat or fermentation, it is
better TO salt them down in the NOW or
stack the same day they are cut, after being
exposed few hours TO a hot sun. Two
bushels Of salt, if uniformly scattered among
the hay, are sufficient to cure three tons.
Red-top, timothy, and the more substan-
tial grasses generally are not cut before they
have arrived at their full growth, at about
the time they begin to ripen their seeds. If
cut when in a growing state, the unrlpe
juices of the plant are apt to bring on vlo-
lent heat and fermentation and thus de-
prive the crop of much of its substance and
nourishment. The truth of this has been
confirmed by the observation of Mr.. Isaac
Reeves of Delaware, who is Of opinion that,
By moving these grasses before they are
ripe, the roots bleed and die out, and that
this is the reason why a second crop does
not spring up for time after. 81 once"
said he, "purchased the fifth part of crop
of timothy on one of the islands in the De-
laware, with the intention of cutting my lot
at the time the other four purchasers did
theirs, but was called from home and it
was not done until the seeds would vegetate
thought nay hay was spoiled; but it was
preferred to that Of all others for horse feed;
and behold the next year my lot of land
Welded double the crop of the others, and
at the end of three years, it had increased
to two and a half tons to the acre, overgrow-
ing all the other grasses, having uniform
crop five feet in height, and preferred before
all Others at the market. Since that, have
never cut timothy before the seeds will just
vegeta,e; and would take poor field that
shows only few spires of timothy grow
ing in it, and by these simple means, engage,
in five years, to cut two and half tons per
acre, of superior hay provided the land be
suitable to the growth of the crop"
With regard to the best mode of making
hay, there also prevail various opinions -
One class of farmers never move their hay
out of the swath on the day it is cut, but on
the second day, shake all that was cut on
the day previous, by giving it two turnings.
If shaken the day it is cut, they say the hay
is reduced by the hea. of the sun; but by
leaving it in the swath, it "soaks its own
sap,'' and will be reduced very little after
wards. The more of the natural juice or
moisture that can safely be left in the hay,
the less, they say, will it suffer from thai,
portion of the loss which arises from the
drying. Another class contend that the
more quickly the drying is effected, the less
entensire ariA be the change IN the starch of
the plants; and consequently the hay will
retain more of its substance in soluble or
digestive state. The last assertion would
seem 10 De correct from observations maze
in England some time since on the two
modes of drying hay. In the dales Of Y ork-
shire where great attention is given to the
frequent turning of the hay, and the conse-
quent increased rapidity of drying it, the
cattle can be fatened upon hay alone, which
is said to be rarely the case in Scotland, on
the Tweed, where the process is more slow,
occupying three or four days.
The plan generally adopted in the United
States; and the one which long experience
seems to justify, is to now during the early
part of fair day while the dew is on the
grass, say until nine, ten, or eleven o'clock :;
then spread and turn the hay, towards even
ing rake it up into cocks of about 100 lbs.
each f.; and if the weather be very dry and
hot, draw it to the barn or stack the same
day. But if the crop is very heavy and
green, it is suffered to remain in the cock
over night, and about eleven O'Clock the
next forenoon, it is opened or spread, and
four or five hours after is conveyed to the
stacks.
TIME FOR BUDDING FRUIT TREES.
August has been generally considered the
the best month for budding, but other months
D..