Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-08-13
The Value Of hay Caps.

~ " AuANNnAAANh NAAuAA NaA ANANN'f
know they are generally approved Of, on the
score Of economy, by thOso who have given
them fair trial.
In the autumn Of 1856, Mr.. Flint, Scere.
tary Of the Mass. Board o. Agriculture, d.
rected 10 one or more farmers IN every town
in the State. a eircular containing a series
OF question, pertaining to the farm. The
tenth question was, " Have you used hay
eaps' aud IL 50, with what result in point
Of economyI How were they made. and AT
what eo.tf'
To the above questions he received nuucr'
Gus replies. and in almost every case the use
OF hay caps was highly approved.
A practical farmer Of Hampshire county
says
'In reply to your question as to the u,il-
isy " hay cars, ii gives me pleasure to say,
thA; after using them constantly for the
last Sven years. consider them Of the hrs;
importance IN the mos, critical branch Of
farming.
"I can safely aisr-n that ny hay has been
intrinsieally worth on an average, one or
two dollars a ton more than nv neishhors,
which has been proved by the remarkable
health Of my animals. Having ,hesc
covers always at hand, il has been my prae-
tice 70 NOW nv grass when 1, was ready,
without consulting the almanac or waiting
for change Of the moon, and the result has
been. | have had mcrO than my share Of
goOI luck in this important branch OF busi-
ncss
They are also very useful as a protection
agains, heavy dews, aud a. a cover for
eOsrsc clover and timothy, consider them
indispensable"
A Worcester county farmer says:
- have one hundred, made Of cotton
.hee,ing. two yards square, the hundred
cost me just forty dollars. think they
have saved me twenty dollars this year.
had az one tine this season, one hundred
and thirty cocks standing out in a SIX days
storm. Ons hundred were eovercd-no'
having eaps enough, thirty were lefs uneoV.
cred. The uncovered was worth but little,
while the covered was pssSAble hay.
stocked some oats, which | eapped-ihey
stood two days rain without, injury"
Reccuty Nsw.HampshirS farmer, SIR.
w, informed us that be procured one hun
drcd. two yard SQUARE caps, At the cost Of
forty cyuts each. aud be ihinks that be
more than saved the COS, OF them in the pro-
lection they afforded bis bay the las; unu
sually vet season. lie cut about eighty
tons, large portion Of 1t clover aud herds
grl-.
We eould cite numerous other similar
statements ia favor Of the utility Of hay.
caps, bot think il unnecessary. There ar,
come farmers. however. who objeet to then
use. \ farmer Of Middloss1 county, ia a
letter to Mr.. Flint, says:
Ihave never used hay-eaps. no, having
faith enough in them 70 give them a trial
nv objections are that they cannot be OF any
Use a. permanent shelter, bot only IN 4
sudden shower. and then W. have no time
% put them on. We can save more hay by
putting it in cocks and trimming well, than
by covering with canvass cloth. In fair
weather the cap would Dc decidedly injuri
Gus, as 1t would prevent the escape Of vapol
or steam. Cocks Of hay that Arc left .,
stand in the Geld over the sabbath. are otter
dried enough in the upper half. Bu, il
case caps were put on for saturday nigh,
the drying would not advance on Sunday
unles. YOU should make il a business TO re.
move then on Sunday forenoon"
Perhaps II this Middlcsex farmer was Il
make use Of hay-caps Tor one season, epe
cially - caieiiHg a. was the is, season, h
might somewhat modify hi. opinions in thi
matter
Believing that there is frequently grear
saving TO farmers. that have a supply o.
hAy-cap. on hand during the busy season o
hsyins and harvesting, We thus early refer
O. the 'ubee, Tor the purpose Of calling h,
attention Of iarusrs, who are not provide,
with hay-oaP', 10 the consideration OF th,
question at this comparatively leisure sea.
son Of the year. II any shall determine e
provide asains, "a rainy day. in hay time
BY procuring a supply Of caps, We will just
suggest to them that in this matter il /,
better 10 procure them q few week, belor,
needed Tor use. than to Be a single day to,
late.
Farmers diler somewhat as % the prope
size of hay-eaps We have seen them il
site- ranging al the way from ono yard {,
two yards square. We think l.a iee
square j, as small as any should be made
but should prefer those two yards square
Several methods have been praesieod 70 Sc
cure them upon the cocks Of bay some re
commend sewing in each corner a ston,
weighing one or two pounds each olher'
have cycle, holes in tho corners. through
which they thrust small pins Of Is or n
inches in length into the cocks Of bay: 9th.
ers attach 10 each corner a loop Of strong
twine Il or Is inches lons. and make use
oi ash or other hard wood pins, eighteen
inches long. The pins are about one inch
square at the top end, near which they have