The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-19
CURING NAY.
ny W IITrLr.

Much difference ofopirion and practice cv.
lots, as TO the proper time and manner Of
cutting aud curing hav. writer in q late
number OF the Ohio Culdyalor, has called
the attention Of it- r@sdorA 10 the fact, that
the greater portion Of hay made in this State
viii not winter stock without a loss Of flesh
Ifthis Is true, which have some reason IN
believe, il Is a fact disGraceful TO our rcputa.
ton As nn agricultural community. Il be-
comes, then, matter OF somc consequence to
know what is the right time and which il the
hes, mode Of preparing grass for winter. It,
Is obvious 20 the most careless mind that the
object OF the farmer ought to be to preserve
the hay in the condition most resembling
grass In its highest perfection. Now, this
time Is certainty nov bcHJFe- the bh,rlr- a,.,l
leaves arr formed and done growing. because
then too much water is present, and the sac
chArinc and solid matter nos fully developed;
consequently, in drying it looses greatly in
weight aud in nutritive qualities. Neither ia
(as most men guppose) whepthe seed is full
y formed and partially ripe, the blade hav-
ing assumed yellow color, because thon tho
juices Of the grass have become converted
into woody fbro and seed. and the blade is
but little better than so much straw. Tho
right time must be, then, when rho grass is
passing out Of blossom, when tho juices Of
the stock are still remaining there, when tho
leaves are still green, and the whole plant
full of those nourishing qualities which mako
your cows almost believe in winter that grass
has come again.
Where clover ia sown nlone, great care
should he taken in harvesting. Whom the
growth ia rank, IL often happens that it will
fall down before it is cut When this hap
pens it ought to be cut at once, and cured as
bEst yr,t, ran, or fed to -yaur stock hut If II
does not lodge, il ought to be permitted to
stand until about one half the blossoms haEe
turned brown, then cut il and'if the day is
very hot, and the sun shines bright, do not
shake it ont, but let il remain in the swath,
turning it once or twice in the course Of the
day; this preserves the leaves, which would
be likely to be lost by spreading out thinly in
the sun. In the evening rake il up.and cock
il in small cocks If the weather is fine the
next day, the cocks may be overturned and
shaken up lightly, so that the air will pass
freely through them. In the evening it may
bs> hauled 10 the barn, without any danger
of spelling. In cloudy or showery weather,
more time is necessary, and here your i'.dqs-
ment must be your guide. Glover hay thus
prepared will keep your cattle we'll in win
ter, and cause cows to keep up their supply
of milk.
Timothy grass is always later in the season
than clover, aud is generally about ready TO
cut when the latter is harvested; il ought to
be cut when the pollen or blossom is falling;
as at this time it is in its highest perfection as
grass. The same general rule for its cure
may be observed as before stated;but itscarce-
ly ever requires so much time and care hs
clover, possessing more woody fibre and less
water. ] have frequently-especially toward
the latter end of haymaking-cut and hauled
it in on tho SAme day. The day and the cir
cuustanees, however, were always favorable
when have done this, and il will not do to A.
dopt it as a general rule.
BY pursuing this method of cutting both
OF these grasses,--and indeed all other kinds
You secnre a speedy growth for a second
crop. which would not be SO certain If len to
hNoone more mature, the roots Of the plants
bsiag partially or totally exhausted by ripen-'
ing, and general tendency to decay having
taken place Western AgricularlsLl