Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-07-07

afterwards turned; and provided It be
fine drying weather, the first days hay
will BE- sufficiently msde--that is, 1t
will have lost most of its moisture, the
chief part Of its natural juices will re
main, and, as il has been well scattered
about and frequently turned, this will
have been effected without some por-
lions of the grass being too much with
cred and others still too succulent. 1t
still retains fine light green color, and
The farmers aim now is TO secure it with
The greatest possible haste. For this
lurpo e,,he hay is gathered together in
10 rows, and the rows divided and col
lected into "hay-coLks;" which may be
done by forkIng, but If the sky is over
cast, and threatens rain, the large wind
rows should he drawn up into large cocks
by horses, two horses walking, one on
each side the row, dragging rope ai-
ter them, which passes round the end Of
the row; two men ride upon the rope,
and as the horses proceed, the hay rises
Up between them, forming heap; and
This, having slid far enough to accumu-
late sufficient quantity, the rope is lift
cd up, the hinder portion Of the mass
pulled on to the top, and another cock
commenced. Care should be taken
that the cocks are "made up" neatly
aud well TO keep out the rain, and the
horse or handrakes must be kept going
during the whole time. All the hay
must, in due course, be made and cock
elk after the same manner Unless the
aspect of the sky betokens approaching
showers the smaller kind of haycocks,
made by rolling up the windows with
forks into proper sized heaps, will be
best.
The next morning, or as soon as the
weather permits they may be well thrown
out in saddles of lew yards in width,
TO insure the hay been sufficiently well
dried; and it will then be ready for
loading.
OF course, the farmer must not be
implicitly guided 10y any given rules for
haymaklng; in this operation he has TO
depend upon very tickle and changea-
Die power. namely, the influence of the
weather, and he must vary and modify
them 10 suit circumstances. The OBJ
ect to be aimed at can alone be exhibit
ed TO his view, and a model method
pointed out for him to initiate as closely
as lie can. The description given of
tie chemica nature of this process ex
plans TO the haymaker what he has to
do,and perhaps the following truths will
assist him in dIscoverln- the most eligi-
BILE way of doing good
l. He must remember that the chief
polnt is TO preserve the hay from dew
and an,- water washes away the solu-
bic salts and other matters, and, when
IN the stack, will cause fermentation.
aud that Injuries the hay by destroying
some of lis most valuable properties;
therefore, bring it into windows, or
make into iootcocks at nightlal, and
never open it in the morning until the
dew has evaporated.
2. Bear in mind that, if the weathaY
is unfavorable the less il is disturbed
the better, and the longer it will retain
It's native powers. Hay has been found
TO preserve great amount of its nutri-
tive qualities for many days, nay; even
weeks, when mown wet, or when satu-
rated with the rains whilst lying in the
swarlh. If repeatedly dried and wet
ted again, it soou becomes valueless;
this error of meddling with hay, amidst
frequent showers, must, if possible, be
avoided, for it is far better to have i,
somewhat tainted in the haycock than
thus exhausted of its nuiriment, and
spoilt, by being repeatedly pread.
81. Take care not TO allow it TO re-
main long under the hot beams of the
sun without being turned; this will pre-
serve the color and fragrance of the
grass; so that without baking i; toe
much, (thus destroying its virtues il
may be so dry that as little heating OF
fermentation as possible shall occur il
STACK, remembering also that coarse
does not require so much making "a
fine sucoulent heritage.