Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-09-12
CRaB.GRASS hay.

CRAB-GRASS HAY.
ALTHOUGH we have generally saved an
unusual quantityof good fodder this season,
we should by no means neglect to save all
the hay that can possibly be gathered. Hay
when properly saved, is worth more than
fodder and will at any time command a
higher price in cities. It is an easy matter
to save it, and by pressing it in the Cotton
screw, can be made into convenient pack
ages for transportation.
AS all our farmers are blessed with a fine
crop of this commodity, let us see who will
report the largest quantity saved. For the
benefit of those wishing to enter the lists we
pluck the following from the Farmer f
Planter.
CUTTING HAY.-There are at present
multitude of conflicting opinions in relation
to the period when grass should be cut,
some contending that the operation of mow-
ing should be commenced as soon as the de.
velopment OF the flowers has commenced; |;
others that the scythe should by no means
be introduced till the seed has become par.
TALLY matured, as they ydppose the superior
value of this adds more to the value of the
plant as whole, than it abstract. No def.
mite rules, however, can be laid down in this
matter, as practice must necessarily vary
with the contingencies of temperature, as.
pect, climate and the specific character OF
the grasses ordinarily cultivated. For our
own part, we think that one should com.
mence as soon as inAorescence begins. He
will then have time to get through haying
before the crop becomes too far advanced
towards maturity; and his hay, though less
heavy, and consequently somewhat less
valuable as market product, perhaps, will
be much more succulent and sweet thap if
permitted to stand till a later period, or till it
becomes dead ripe.
The old method of making hay in the
sun and drying it till scarcely particle of
| moisture is left in the fibre, is now almost
universally deprecated. On this subject,
one of the greatest farmers who has ever
lived, has the following remarks, which we
find in the Germantown Telegraph:
Gas soon as the grass is fairly freed from
moisture, it is put into heaps, which are
made as high as possible; and to prevent
these from falling down small stake is
driven into the ground, around which the
grass is carefully arranged with the hand.
A handful of grass is then taken from one
of the swaths, and the longest and strongest
portions are chosen from it to cover the top
Of the heap or hay.cock with, care being
taken to trim the upper or Towering part OF
the grass downward. These pyramidal
heaps are then suffered to remain until the
grass of which they are composed is thor
oughly dry, which is generally somewhere
between the eighth aud fifteenth day. On
the heap being opened, the grass in the inte.
rior Of it will generally be found to retain
its hue and freshness. have seen grass
thus made into large heaps, in dry and windy
weather, which has made very rapidly with.
out requiring to be moved, and has been
quite green. Temporary rain or showers
will not do it any harm beyond that of de.
priving the external parts Of some portion
of its greenness, but should the wet weather
continue for any considerable period Of time,
there is possibility of the hay becoming
too much compressed; it will then be neces.
sary to open the heaps, and shake and loos-
en- the hay, in order to prevent it from ac.
quiring an unpleasant favor"
This may be obviated by making the cocks
small, say of about eighty pounds weight,
when first put up, and covering them care.
fully with green grass. give you this for
what it is worth, some may be induced to
try it this season on small scale, and report
the result. One thing is admitted by every
one, which is, that the less the hay, in ma.
king, is exposed to the sun, the more valua.
ble it is, it retains its color and flavor better,
and consequently is worth great deal more
per ton than when dried up by the burning
rays of the sun.-Real Estate Register.
ASHES IN AR1cULruRE.-Wood ashes is
one of the most important fertilizers. 1t is
easily obtained in any quantity at little or
no expense Take them carefully from your
hearths and save them until your corn and
potatoes have risen two or three inches from
the ground, then take a basket on your arm
and from it take small handful of ashes
and cast it at the root Of your plants and hoe
them soon, so as cover the ashes. By this
means you will increase your crop one-half.
Ashes contain all the inorganic substances
of the wood or plants which are consumed,
part of these are soluble and part insoluble.
But the soluble substances mixed with water
will dissolve the insoluble. Thus, dissolved
potash will dissolve silica and prepare it for
glazing the stalks of cane, corn, wheat, &c.
Not particle of ashes should go to waste.
Leached ashes has parted with most Of its
potash, but it still retains its phosphoric acid
and most of its lime.
Ashes neutraizes acids in the soil, they
warm cold, mossy, wet places, they are
very destructive to insects, they assist to
break down and dissolve the coarse fibres
and stalks in compost heaps, render hard,
clayed soils open, loamy and fertile.
The potash, SO material to most crops,
can be obtained here, only from ashes. In
granite regions, potash is obtained from the
dissolution of the field spar, but We have