The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-06-14
Ii,s farmer.
Correspondence Of the Germantou" Telegraph.
HAI-MAKING.

ment of a farm, more important than thar
of hay making. The crop of hay must
be the chief reliance of the farmer for
stock feeding, however much or great
NAV be the assistance he derives from
grain and roots. He can never make
these subserve his purpose entirely,
though he possesses, unquestlonahly, the
power of rendering them most valuable
aduvants in the work. Still hay is the
great staple--the principal and main re-
lance during winter. 1t is theretore'o OF
the very first importance that tins crop
should be we'll cured: consequently any
suggestions having tendency to alnell-
crate the quality Of the product, while,
at the same time, it shall effect a dimi-
mutton ofthe expense Involved in its ac-
quistion--in other words. any system
that will enable the farmer to economist
one-third or one half of the labor usual
" expended in the harvest, with an ac-
tual benefit to the hay, must be OF prac-
teal value to the husbandman and en-
titled to his special attention and regard.
By moving ordinary grassin the first
part of the day-perlnitting it merely to
aotlt, and then, with horse-rake, throw
ing it into middling sized and well com
pact winrows, and making 1t into grass
cocks" Of from sixty to eighty or hum
dred pound weight, as circumstances
may appear to demand, the crop will be
in a condition to ''make" without any
further trouble, and in . manner too,
which will render it perfectly bright,
elastic and sweet, and far more nutritive
than hay cured in the ordinary way, by
exposure to the sun. Good grass, cured
in this manner; will always be chrrac-
terised by "a green and lively color, and
the peculiar aroma, so pleasant IN hay
fields will be distinguished in the barns.
The s1cculency Of green grass, is PERHAPS
one ofits most attractive features, and
hav made on this principle is heavier
from the desiccation of the native juices
than the same when cured by exposure.
Excessive drying causes the stalks to be-
come brittle; and much is in consequence
lost in 'maiing," especially 1.-THE crop
is cut when very green, or not fully ri
pcned Upon the old plan, frequent
sprealings and tossings were considered
necessary. The field must be raked
carefully, and the next day, perhaps, the
cocks are again spread out, cooked
again, and again opened; and so unit!
the fibre is broken up and rendered SO
fine that cleanliness in securing it is
impossible, and the waste oftIme in per-
forming these operations, is, aiteraIl,
not TO be reckoned as the most import
ant loss involved in system which mas
NOTHING to recommend it to the atten-
ton aud SURFACES Of the farmer unless II
be merely the negative excellency of be-
ing old. The labor of curing hay, UNI
der this regime, isintense; is perform
ed necessarily, in the hottest part Of the
day, and the time expended i'll its per-
formance is by no means an item OF
small Or insignificant consequence; Tor
in the hay season, time is always valua-
bic. By pursuing this new plan, and
using horse-rake, if the surface of the
soil is such as to admit of its successful
action, three men will easily perform
the labor of six on the old plan, unas-
sisted by the rake. This | know to be
a fact, not only from my observation,
but the assertion of my friends, who
have tested both methods for a series Of
many years. This fact is proven. A
late writer of much critical knowledge
and great practical experience in matters
pertaining to agriculture, in some re-
marks upon the value Of the hay crop
and the best and most economical meth
cd of curing it, says:-
CLAY cured in this way" /. G. in the
manner above described, sis of greater
value, and will command higher price
in the market, than hay made in the old
way by spreading out thin and drying
in the sun, until it loses its fragrance
and green color The principal advan-
tage of the new method over the old,
consists, in some measure, in drying IN
the sAade, the hay not being spread out
very thin; the fragrance, and a portion
of the juices are thereby retained, and all
the labor of spreading the first day, is
saved. practiced the new method for
over six years, and therefore know It's
superior advantages. No intelligent
farmer, who will reflect upon the sub
iect, and follow the new mode few
years, will ever go back to the old way
am aware that to farmers in some OF
the most agricultural districts, my sug-
gestons may seem to be gratuitous as
they have already adopted the new
mode
A friend to whom some years since
recommended the system Of grass cock
curing, and who adoptedit, in part with
view of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS its excel
lency, as he assured me, but the reverse,
wrote me last season as follows:--
81 have now wholly fallen into your
views, in reference to the superior econ
nrnu Of curing in srrass cock have