Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-16
CHI Farmer.
Haying.

Mr.. EDITOR AS this season Of the year
is at hand, it earnestly behooves every farmer
to be in readiness, that it come not upon him
unawares, and so find him unprepared.
This department of husbandry, for its sue
cessful operation, requires good degree OF
calculation. united with liberal share Of ac-
ton and go ahead principle. Too many
are lacking in these essential elements OF
coon husbandry, consequently, their progress
Is slow, and their works imperfect.
Much has been written respecting the
proper time for cutting grass, for bay, with
out, as yet, coming to any definite conclu-
sion but as every farmer should experiment
for himself, he can, to his own satisfaction,
come to reasonable conclusion, and should
be governed accordingly.
There is a certain point to which vegeta-
ton arrives, when the nutritious qualities are
in their greatest perfection, beyond which
there is more loss than gain, in letting the
plant or substance remain in the field. 1t is
thus with grass after the juices have done
ascending to the head, there is nothing gain
ed, in my opinion, by letting it remain longer
uncut for the stalk then becomes dry and
hard, and less palatable for stock. And in
order to secure this important crop, to the
farmer, he must be in season, as few days
make more differencesin the quality of hay,
than one at first might suppose. To efectu-
ally accomplish this, there are several things
that require consideration. He must have
plenty of help, as the loss occasioned to hay
bv late cutting, is sometimes more than suf6-
Gent to pay the expense of cutting; hence,
farmers should beware and not look too long,
at little outlay, when much is to be saved.
But here is interposed an obstacle to our far
ther progress" help is so scarce, and wages
so high, that it will hardly pay to hire at al"
This is hard case, but there is remedy at
hand. We must take part of the means we
expend for labor, and lay it out on our fields,
make them smooth and right, for this is an
age of progress, and unless we strike ahead,
we shall be left in the background.
To begin right, is a long step attained, so
then after we have cleared and smothed off
our fields there are means by viii h we may
greatly abridge manuel labor and facilitate
our operations. The Hay harvest is, at best,
a laborious affair, and if there are means, by
which we may be rid of the toll so taxing to
the nerves and strength of man, and withal,
found to PAY, we should be most thankful ,and
avail ourselves of the means at once. The
adaptation of machinery to agricultural pur-
poses, is a great element in the labor-savlng
department of the farm, and we certainly
should not object to "Cullivator," a
" Horse-rake," or a "Mowing-machine," il
they are found to be far preferable to the old
method of farming it.
But look out for humbugs, exclaims one
Aye, look out for humbugs, say l but be
careful that you do not, in the end, find thu
greatest humbug to be in the course you have
pursued.
But / am writing long article, | an
afraid, so for word of caution, and | an
done Gut your grass in the right season ,an'
cut it all, for according to present indications
the crop will not be so large as was confident
ly expected, and the drain that has hilbert
thinned our stock, will be supplied in grea
measure by the vast production of the tw
past years so it is we'll to be preparing 70
an emergency, that occasionally interrupt
the even tenor of the farmers life; that W
be not losers in the end. j
EDWIN RUTHvEN.s !
r. Franklin.