The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-07-18
Aarlrnlturo!.
Hay Milking.


Cur YOUR Hay At THE RIGHT TIME Phi
losoyhy and practice seldom agree When is
the right time? is the question for solution
Our ncighbor, one of them, cut his hay a
week in advance of his brother farmers
it very soon after the seed had commenced
to form, frequently before the bloom had dis
appeared cured it in the sun partially
altogether. No one had better hay. His
crop was secured before any of it had become
wood Dry sticks, and the fragrant, well
cured hay in his barns were not analogous.
Another ncishbor waited until others were
done, that he might obtain help at cheaper
rates. Two weeks after others had finished
his last day of inying' came. There was
another gain. he SAID, hv this course The
grass was ripper and made faster more was
ACCOMPLISHED in a day; hence it did not cost
near the amount to do his having that it did
other people
or course not, but his complaint was, when
winter came-.' My hay does not spend well.
My cattle cat heartily. but do not thrive as
they should, Nciehhor 4. docs not feed his
cattle as well ash do mine, yet they are in
far better 0esh.
The hay sir, makes The difference. Cut it
at the right time just before the seed is ma
lurtd before the woody mattcr .pfcdominatcs
in the stalk. Some suppose the woody mat
ter is useless as as an article of nourshmcnt
butt is not indigeStble, though, insolute in
water. The age of grass alone does not
govern the amount of nuiritivc matter when
made into hay, bnt soil, climate. and season
modify its value greatly: We would prefer
to cut it in bloom, or u portion of the crop
rather than let it rcluun to shell its seed.
~, II Il, ul irl,
enters in to those directions. There is no
doubt but there is more Of the element Of
nutrition in grass at the time of towering
but it is a question if such nutrition remains
III grea ter quantity after the procl IS of curing
when such process is commenced before, or
soon after, the seed commences to form.
This is an open question. The quicker your
hay is made and secured after it has reached
the proper state, the better. The cutting
Of the first hay crop ought not to extend be-
vonrl three weeks.
We think the value Of the grass crop after
it is made into hay depends rs much on the
manner Of curing as on the time of cutting.
The whole crop may be spoiled in curing,
no matter when cut. The following practical
directions are given from experiences.
Cut in the morning. If the grass is heavy,
VI STecH anu ua'np, SUIT Out lIct IL VIII
Rake up and put i'll small cocks, if good
weather, larger if catching weather. Let
it remain in the cock until it has swcm
thoroughly. TIP over. shake apart. Give
it one or two hours good sun, and stack, OF
stow it in your NOW.
Do not NOV mere than you can secure in
cocks the same day. Night dews injure hay
if partially cured. Throw salt on your hay,
especially if it is clover, as you pu, it in the
NOW = four quarts to each ton. If you have
no moving machine, get one. It you can
not use only good sharp scythe, and nerer
NOR or allow your men to NOV with dull
scvthc.
In ranv days. fitnp the horse and other
rakcs, Make lot Of extra teeth to supply
broken ones. Fiji up the hay rack Have
good one. Use good forks, Do not insult
YOUR help by requiring them to pitch hay
with poor anl rough.male forks, Smooth
fork handles springy md tough. and the hay
is easily and quickly handled. Have plenty
of cool and good drink in the hay field. The
best is pnrc ICE rhcr. Some may dcmur;
but We know nothing better or more heal thy.
and nothing that is preferred to it after hay
ing been used once-Prairie Farmer