The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-07-29
THE HOUSE AND FARM.
Make Hay while the SUN Shines

Make Hay while the Sun Shines
The above pithy expression is no less
correct than the many proverbs in our Ian
guage, which have their date from the
time whereof the memory ofman runneth
not to the contrary, but which unfortune-
~, are too familiar to meet the attention
due to their intrinsic worth. More than
ten years extensive experience has convin-
ced that hay can be made only when the
sun shines, and that, however beautiful
their theory, and however excellant their
plans may appear on paper, those writers
who advocate any other mode of cureing
hay have not submitted their principles to
the test OF experience, and Judge too en-
t'rely from superficial view Of the sub
Ject. My practice has ever been during
summer, to have my men employed by.
or before the rising Of the sun, but on no
account would | permit one of them to
use his scythe. A part of my men uu-
loaded the hay left in the carts the prece-
ding evening, and the others ground
scythes, and prepared for the labors of the
day The stock were cared for, and all
arrangements so made that no hindrance
might occur after all hands began to work
at hay. AS soon as the dew was princi-
pally off the grass, the whole force were
brought to bear upon the moving, and in
two or three hours, with moving ma
chine in much less time, J the lightest being
cut while a little dew was still upon it, as
much grass was cut as could receive due
attention. By this time also, it had all
been tended. 1t was then Immediately
set out for winrows, and tended, and turn
ed continually without noonspell, flor
the sun shines brightest, and the hay
makes fastest from IL to Q O'clock until
2or 8 o'clock, p. M, when, if the day
proved fine, much of it was 6t to cart
The carts were Immediately loaded while
the hay was warm, with those portions
which were best cured, and placed in
safety in the barns. The portion of the
grass thus cut not sufficiently cured for
carting, was placed in cocks, in which
state it remained until the next day, when,
in good weather it was generally in ex-
cellant order for carting without further
labor. The whole business was compile
ted by the time the dew began to fall.
Such is the general system for the day.
It is an old maxim among farmers, that
if, on any days there are to be showers,
their prognostics will be distinctly percep-
tible by or before eleven o'clock, A. NJ.
Should the weather have an unfavorable
appearance less grass is cut, and the whole
force is applied to the making of hay
Under this course, for several years, had
scarcely a load Of hay wet. The adyan-
tage of the course lies in the wonderful ra-
pidity with which hay may be cured, if
cut after the dew is off, especially if it is
thoroughly tended and turned, that it lies
light on tho ground, previous to the gent
lest breezes. A northwest wind and a
clear sun have most astonishing effect
upon hay thus tended.
! am satisfied by full and long contin-
ued experience, that grass cut early in the
morning, while loaded with dew, cannot
by the most setlulous attention, be made
as dry in the whole day, as it would have
been ifcut rs soon rs the dew was of, in
half an hours proper tending. In fact
would not Thank a man to cut my grass
while the dew was heavy upon it, as | am
convinced more labor and more time
would be required to make the hay, than
to cut it at what l think the proper timo
Of the day and then make it. | have
never gained anything by putting my
self or men to any heavy labor before
breakfast. The vigor and energy of tho
system is impaired very materially for the
whole day. The maxim which l have
taken for a motto is the best possible rule.
Have allimplements in proper order, and
all things in readiness as soon rs the dew
is off, and the sun shines clear, to make
hay, and work steadily and constantly,
until he ceases to shine, and you will ac-
complish an amount of labour unparaliel-
ed in any other course.-Homestead.
REMARKs.-The above confirms the
statements we have often made, that hay
may begot in, in excellaut order, the same
day it is cut. Indeed large portion of
our own is SO managed; but in such case,
it must have a hot sun and be kept in
motion often. We think there is much
more injured by ouermoking than by not
being cured enough. a
To MAKE GOOD RusK.-Take piece of