Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-08-21
VALLEY FARMER.
From he Country Gentleman.
STACKING HAY AND GRAIN
CROPS WHEN NOT FULLY
DRY.


CROPS WHEN NOT FULLY
DRY.
MEssRs. EDIroRs.-We begin to
anticipate some trouble this year in
getting our hay and grain crops
thoroughly cured and perfectly dry
before having, toi~take them to the
barn or stack. The fear.is.. mot, based
entirely upon the weather 50 iar-wct,
showery, "catching," and uncertain
almost everywherc-but more upon
the heavy growth Of grass, straw,
&C., in meadows fand fgrain fields
which win require long time to
dry out thoroughly, especially where
the hay or grain is cut close to the
ground.
Occasions will pretty certainly oc-
cur upon which It win be difficult TO
determine which of the two evils If
the least, and the oneto be chosen, Of
course, namely to draw in hay or
grain before the moisture in them is
sufficiently dried out, or to run tho
risk Of longer exposure, moro rain, or
other injuries Of undesirable results.
Should any Of your readers be induc-
cd to think that the former Of these
alternatives would be,.in any partic-
ular combination Of circumstances,
the least Of the evils TO which he
must submit, or between which he
must choose, then 1t would be ques-
ton Of no small Importance to such
one-"How am TO. keep this hay or
straw from heating or being injured
in any way?,
Anticipating occasions on which
we ourselves may have such an inqui-
~ como up for an answer-as sim
liar occasions will doubtless occur to
hundreds Of your rcaders-we would
like to hear from any one who has
been fortunate enough to..discover the
best thing TO. be DONE or satisfactory
answer to. tho question which we have
just stated. Even though. the preson-
tation of any facts, opinions, or OK
periences in this matter should como
too late in the season for use during
the times Of haying and harvesting
this year, il will DO Of great impor-
lance to have the whole question OF
the best mode of managing hay and
grain drawn in or stacked when rath-
or too damp or green, fully discussed
and settled and ready for application
on future occasions. Several ques-
tons or undecided points have been
discussed in your columns during the
last three or four years, from the
facts and views drawn out Of which
We have been very decidedly profited
pecuniarily and otherwise. We would
anticipate similar beneficial results
from a similar discussion ofthe ques.
ton under present consideration
For n want OF u knowledge of the best
mode Of managing hay and grain
when stacked in too damp a condi
ton much hay, grain, stalks, and
uw are every year much injured OF
Tered ntirely unfit for fodder.
Ie preserve hay which is moved
aNaf lacked in wet condition
f5r- looming heated, mow-burned
It ia aiit lac methods most com.
manlf as,ysd are these: Mixing
3 ayets stei sry straw or hay; ma,
king .amoy or ventilator through
bs n,w or stack; sprinkling with ain
stacked lime; and scattering salt upon
the successive layers or courses of the
too damp material. The latter i, ",
believe, the preventive most frequen-
tly resorted TO. The greater conven-
ience and ease fthis above the other
methods is proposed. may be the
cause Of its moro general adoption
Stillit has one decided advantage il
addition to the faculty Of It's applica-
ton, namely, the relish which itcom-
municates to the hay or straw upor
which it is sprinkled. A case hal
come TO our knowledge, in which |
teaspoonful or little over, Of salt up
on each bundle Of wheat which wa
stacked before the straw, with th,
weeds and young grass in it, wa
sufficiently dry. After threshing
the stack Of straw in the yard wa
voraciously attacked by all the stool
having access 10 il, and the cows an,
young cattle would not unfrcquently
leave their rations Of good hay for al
attack upon the straw stack.
Cases ola similar kind, showing th,
avidity with which sailed hay, ever
when damaged or ofinferior quality
Is often eaten by horses and cattle
have frequently been recorded. Blu
this method ofsaving wet or incure,
hay, &c, is liable 70 abuses and objec
tons; perhaps bettermay have beer
found out by some Of your readers.
A