Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-04-04
THE FARM---
The Garden...The Orchard
Hay of 1855 Inferior.

hay Of 1855 Inferior.
From what has come under our personal
observation, and from accounts Of what
has been observed by others, We are led to
suppose it highly probable that large pro-
portion of the hay made in 1855 is Of in
ferior quality. Clover hay seems to be
more generally defective in quality than
other kinds, and is, more than it usually
is, affected with mildew, and the dust
which originates mainly from mildew and
mustiness. Already we hear of horses
suffering in their respiratory organs from
dusty hay. Other proofs of the iuferiority
of last summers crop Of hay We have OBJ
served, as, for example, that animal, fed
on it do not keep in as good condition as
they should do, or have done in previous
years, upon like quantity. Upon quite
a number Of farms, we learn, the feeding
of hay, especially that containing clover,
has been abandoned on account of its
causing slavering in both horses, oxen,
and cows. Some colts which had been but
for short time fed on hay, were noticed
to be getting very thin in flesh. As they
were not put into the stable, but allowed
to sleep under shed and run in pretty
large yard, they did not come under the
inspection Of the person having the care
of them sufficiently near to admit of his
noticing, what indeed was not at all sus-
pected, that they we're affected very severe
ly with slavering. At length one of them
standing near the we'll, waiting for
drink, made such q puddle of SLAYER as
to attract notice.
Whatever may be the cause of this in
feriority in the quality of the hay provided
for this winters use, it deserves the atten-
tion of all who are using fodder of this
kind, in order that some preventive or
cure be discovered. The cause is tho't
by some to be the fashiness of the grass
when cut for hay in consequence of the
excessive rains of last spring and summer
In some districts also, and probably in a
great many, hay was very imperfectly
cured in consequence of rains and showery
weather. Much of it was put in barn or
stack that was not sufficiently dry; and
much Of it was injured by repeated wet
thugs.
Ii this inferiority Of the hay now being
fed to stock of all kinds is at all as gene
rally prevalent as We suppose it must be,
from the general prevalence Of rains and
the unfavorable weather about haying time,
every one who has any regard for the
health, comfort, or good condition of his
creatures will watch closely and endeavor
to determine whether or not those which
are fed entirely or principally upon hay
are keeping in good condition. If horses,
cattle, COWS, aud sheep suffer all over the
Northern, Middle and Western States, as
they have done to an observable extent in
one nei ghborhood, then some remedy or
substitute must be devised Some, in the
vicinity referred to, have given up feeding
hay, and have substituted for it chopped
or chaffed straw with an addition of bran,
meal, or other ground feed. We are
strongly Of opinion that sheep and all other
stock will require more good shelter, more
care, and more grain during this winter,
than they usually do. If not we'll looked |
to, they will get poor or do worse.
We clip the above from the Country
Gentleman. 1t is quite likely that the
hay throughout the Southwest is affected |
by the same causes. We should expect to
find it less nourishing, and no. so well |
cured generally, as that Of the preceding
season, because the growth was more pro-
tracted by rains, which also in many cases
fell upon the Gu, grass. The crop of 1854 |
had sufficient rain to get good start in
the early part of the season, and the drouth
which set in before harvest, while it
checked over-luxuriance, also concentrated
the juices, and the crop was gotten up
without single injurious shower.
If any Of our correspondents have OBJ
served any difference in the quality Of last
seasons hay, We should like !"
them on the subicct.-Lr