Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-06-13
dQrfultarlIl dtla Ranlsatif
Z From ithe American FARMER.


troddeu9 dowE by stock and moderately
grsxed. it lie frequently found desirable 10
take off the early crop for hay. Indeed
some writer's contend that the cutting of
OF this growth is an advantage TO the land
by preventing the growth Of weeds from
seeding. and by the increased growth Of
the roots consequent upon il. In our
opinion. however. the treading of the
crop upon the land and thereby giving It
aMick covering, is the true method Of using
it. when Improvement is the object.
To cure clover hay properly is avery
different matter from ordinary hay-ma-
king. tits aprocess which requires strict
care and attention ordinarily. and these
become The more necessary because Of the
uncertain and wet weather. which FREE
quently occurs about the time Of the har-
vest. Indeed many farmers have come
TO the conclusion that clover hay is unfit
food for horses !; causing frequently a
cough. and producing irritation which re-
suits in hcaves. With others. however,
it ia favorite food. producing no iniuri-
Gus effects. The different experiences we
have no doubt is owing to difference in
the manner Of curing. The irritation spo-
ken Of is caused very probably by dne
dust arising from the clover when it is
pulled about by the horse. This dust is
owing 70 The small lower leaves of the plant
which perish when shaded by luxuriant
growth, or by the snorching of portion
of the more delicate leaves in the sun
while curing. The clover stems being
very succuIent. it is thought necessary 10
expose it much to the sun to cure it pro-
perry. j
Glover is usually said to be the most fit
for cutting when about one third of the
blossoms have turned brown We would
not have it later than this, and the wealth
ersui'iDg would make it some what ear.
lier. The stems of heritage plants not
only become less nutritious, but harsh and
'tistasIeful in proportion as they form their
seed. Glover should not be cut while wet
with rain or dew. 1t should be exposed
to the sun only long enough to dry off the
external moisture and wilt. and then
thrown into light cocks until cured. The
following more particular directions are
given by the late Judge Buel, skilltul
practical farmer. as he was the able and
JEALOUS promoter Of Agricultural improve
ment: ....s .. ..E..-- |.su..
a. The mode Of making clover hay, as
practiced By the best farmers, is as fol-
lows The clover is cut close to the
ground, in as uniform and perfect a man
ner as it is possible to accomplish, by the
~nythe Kept constantly sharp. That part
Of the stem left by the scythe is not only
lost, but the attergrowth is neither so vig>
"rous nor so weightv as when the first cut
ting is taken as low as possible. AS soon
40 the grass is partially wilted, let the
swath be- gently turned over, but not
spread or scattered. This may be done
with forks or rakes. If the weather be
tair. and the clover cut in the morning,
the s~Aths may be turned after dinner ;
and if mown after noon they may be turn
ID before evening at which time those
turned after dinner may be put into grass
cocks. This last or Grafton should be per-
formed with care and in this manner :
Three SwaIhs are appropriated to row
"f cocks. The laborer gathers a good
fork full. and deposits il on the center
twa'h if the ground is dry. If not in one
ri the intervals, putting it down gently so
That the cock may present small base ;
he then continues to gather and deposite
in the same way until the cock is brought
10 a point. at the height of four to Eve
feet according to the dryuess of the clo>
1er.--she dryer this is, the higher the
cock may be made. When completed,
the grass cock is two or three feet broad
at the ground. tarering to the apex, and
The projecting ends of the heritage droop,
ing. DO MS to carry off the rain which may
tall. The points to be regarded are, to
cock before the leaves begin to crumble,
not to suffer the dew to fall upon the dried
surface of the swath, and to build the
cocks so ns completely to shed the rain,
should the weather be bad. These grass
cocks may stand to advantage So or "a
hours. without any prejudice, and should
not be opened until there is fair pres,
pect OF obtaining a few hours of good wea-
Their ITO complete the curing process
When this is the case. open the cocks as
toon as the dew is off. spread them par.
TALLY. from four to six inches thick. II
the day il good. the spread clover may
be,turned over between twelve and two,
aud in an hour or two afterwards be gath.
cred for The barn. By this process Of GU
ring, the leaves are all preserved, injury
from dew or rain is in great measure
avoided. Il c stalks are better dried. and
the appearance and value of the forage
n1e ret"iued in the highest Perfection
II rain is apprehended after the grass
cocks have stood a night. these may
he doubled BY putting one upon top OF
another aud dressing with a rake. An
intense sun is almost as prejudicial to clio.
var Us rain. and therefore it should not be
shaken out. spread or exposed oftener
than i necessary for its preservation. The
more the $wath is kept unbroken. the
more green and fragrant will be the hay
SOFT FoR FRUIT TREEs.-Fine fruit can