Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-07-26
From the Massachusetts Ploughman.
Farm Work for July.

From the Massachusetts Ploughnan.
Farm work for July.
The late warm weather in June gives
the farmer courage TO pcrscverc aud do
his part towards securing good harvcs's
from all the usual crops. We arc now
close upon July, and have the heaviest of
our labors before us. Much depends on
the weather of July. The grass is now so
forward that but little rain will be wanted
| for this important article so far as hay is
concerned, and we hope 10 sec but little
wet weather while there j, haying ~ be
dohe.
Farmers all call this backward season
end so it is. Ii was late before the plough
could be moved TO advantage. Corn was
| planted week later than it often is--and
many farmers have sown their spring
grain unusually late yet we always find
clover and the grasses about as forward in
one season as in another as late as in July.
When vegetation commences late it is al
ways more rapid and brings up by mid
summer.
MaEjng Ciorer Hay.-Various arc the
notions of farmers in regard TO this species
| Of hay. All like it for green food, but
many think it almost worthless as winter
food for stock. Farmers differ also in re-
gard to the modes Of curing clover, and we
find some of the most ultra vagarics en-
pressed in regard TO making it into hay.
We have known people TO put it nearly
green into their barns, hoping to preserve
it with a good quantity of salt, as they pre-.
serve their pork.
Some have fancy that the leaves are
the only valuable part Of the hay--thcy
consequently take care, in making, to Sc
cure the leaves at all events and let the
stems take care of themselves The chict
reason why the stems are 50 little esteemed
is, that they have usually been permitted
to stand in the field till all the good juices
have taken their departure from them.
Northern clover, the northern large kind,
should be cut early, or it will surely prove
poor fodder for stock. When it is rank it
should be cut soon after hayMe heads arc
Med 10 a ,fW JloSSom.-Try this once and
you will never say again that the stems or
stalks arc good for nothing for hay. In,
stead of managing so as to secure the
leaves, look out for the main chance, the
stcms--ior ii is fact that the stems well
cured are worth ten times as much as the
bare leaves.
Still it is good practice TO save boil
leaves and stems. Cut the clover early
and dry it properly and you will save near
" all the leaves. We have found it goot
practice to cut the clover in the forenoon
and spread it out to dry through the day
then towards night turn it over and let il
lie till next day, when it may be caricc
into the barn without much stirring. Thi:
kind of hay does not require 50 much dry
ing as the fine grasses, for it does not lie
close like that with but little leaf
Another mode Of curing clover is to hal
dry it in the sHath and pitch it into smal
, hcars--say less than 100 VT. in heap
, and let it lie there two or three days, turn
: ing the heaps topsy.turvy once or twice a
occasion may require. The chief obicc
ton to this mode is that the hay is longc
, exposed to the weather than in other cases
Should the weather prove good this j.
the easiest way Of preparing clover for the
barn.
. Clover is not a good kind Of hay for til,
= market, for it is injured more by romova
than any kind. But for horses and fo
, milch cows there is no better hay than on
own well cured rcd clover. Cattle will ca
all tie stems when the grass is cut in pro
= per season.
t In hay time look ont for the wcathc
;. from 10 4. VI. to > p. NJ. These are tn
E important hours for the haymakcr, and h
u should learn to Judge of the weather be
tween these hours. Mornings are out o
;. fashion in good hay weather, for while tn
. hay is spread out to dry, both eyes shou!
e be open to guard il from sudden showers
n Two days are enough for drying la.
when there is but a ton and half pc
= acre, and when we come into the sccOn'
i week Of July---but carly cut grass shoul
be dried longer or it will be likely to gro'
musty and come out light. \ little sal
is good, but there is Il cheat in putin
large quantities of salt on hay that is TO b
j. sold by weight. IIalfa peck per ton vii
do no harm to any kind.