The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-07-05
VOL. XVII.


their thirsty predictions According
ly, "there were giants in those days." or a
least, men thought themselves so, and wha
was sometimes unfortunate, they though
their teams Of horses 80, too, for their load
were occasionally left at the foot of the hill
or imbedded hub-dccp in the black mud o
the meadows!
Under present customs, haying is conduct
cd more quietly, skilfully and efSctually
than /, was under the spirit pressure.
rmE OF CUTTING, AND now TO CUT TIE
GRASS.
The average amount of land gone over by
the mowers Of New England, with the hand
scythe, is not much, if any, more than one
acre per day, and the average crop is not
more than one ton per acre. If man has
twenty-five tons Of hay to get, he will, on
this average, have twenty-five acres to NOV
er,-makiug, at 81 so per day, the usual
wages in hay,ng time, $3.50. To this his
board is to be added Tor twenty-five days, say
81, 6,25, making Si3,75. There are moving
machines Of recent construction or modifca-
tion with which man or boy may cut six
acres per day, with ease, and cut it well,
either with one or two horses, or pair OF
oxen. 1t can be cut nearly OF this rate in
convenient parcels, say one or two acres at
a time, so as to accommodate the hands that
are to tend and get it in. This will cost for
a man four days, S6,00-bOard, Sl,OO-
horse, S4,O0-interest on machine, one year,
S9,0O,-making Sl7,0O, which deducted
from S43,75, leaves saving Of S2O,75!
But this is not all ihere is the saving OF
spreading the grass, which the machine does
as il cuts il, and the still more important
item of cutting the grass rapidly when you
are ready to tend it, or when the weather is
favorable to make ii into hay. To these
may DO added the consideration Of transfer
ring this hard work, from man to beast, and
this is especially desirable in many cases,
where the farmer beyond middle life is not
able to now at all.
From this view Of the case, it would seem
that the farmer who has twenty-five tons OF
hay to secure, would find il economical to
use moving machine, even il be were oblig-
ed to borrow portion Of tho money to pay
for it. But u single machine may be owned
and used without Inconvenience by two con-
tiguous neighbOrs, thus reducing the cost so
much that nearly all may avail themselves
of its advantages.
To the moving machine should be added
a good horse rake and set Of hay caps, and
then the farmer is in condition to enter up
on the annual campaign with good certainty
of success.
The mode Of making and securing hay is
50 general that the observance OF few sim
pie rules seems to be all that is necessary.
In order to get the sweetest and best hay,
the grass should bo cut very soen after the
bloom first appears. 1t should not be allow
ed to remain long spread out in hot sun
but when fairly wilted, so that upon taking
il in the hand, some OF the dryest portions
will snap little, should then be thrown IN
to high peaked cocks and covered with caps,
il they arc at hand. In this condition the
cocIs may stand forty-eight hours, with de-
cided advantage, and all that will be neces-
sary afterwards. is to throw the cocks open
TO the sun and air for three or four honrs,
when il will be in excellent condition to be
carted in.
Grass cured in this manner will look
green and bright, and will retain that pecu-
liar aroma or fragrance, not less grateful to
the taste Of the cattle, than to the nose of
their owner, when he enters the barn. Ii
also retaia, its nutriiiou, qualities entirely
beyond that cut down. spread and suffered to
remain upon the ground during eight or ten
hours Of two or three dnys, The farmer can
easily test this for himself, by cutting two
parcels Of the same grass and drying them
under the two processes we have mentioned,
sleeping them, and tasting the tea made
from each. The Shakers, who prepare
large quantities of herbs for market. esteem
this method Of drying of so much impOr-
tance, that they construct very large rooms
for this special purpose, and would scarce
ly aeccp, of sun-dried herbs delivered at their
doors! They are an observing and shrewd
people, conducting their business upon
sound principles, so that their example ir
business matters, at least, are entitled to re-
gard.
1t has become quite fashionable to salt hay
as it is packed away in the barn, and we
fear the practice is carried altogether too
far. Many ton Of hay is taken in not
much more than half cured, because there is
, prospect foul weather, under the CON-
fortiug thought that a peck Of salt 'rin Be add
, Cd in order to save it.
From their own natural desire, cattle will
not take much salt during the winter, and
we cannot believe 1t healthy to have it fore
cd upon them mingled with the food which
they must eat, or starve. A small quanti
ty Of salt. no, exceeding two or three quartz
, to the ton. may be usetul-but more, w
n cannot think necessary, even il it be moi
v hurtful.
o Our hay crop Is one Of vast importance
Its aggregate value is very large, and altho
II not exported to foreign countries-that is
} not beyond the Kingdom Of South Carolina OF
IIo,;.;an.-i. of nj. ,,..h ,.t,,. -,