The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-06-22
AgriGnltural.
Iiay-Making.

1t has been held to be n good rule in regard
10 clover, to cut 1t when the greatest bulk is
in fufl bfo"m. which would generally he after
n portion Of the heads had turned brown -
But rank clover is apt to lodge. and when it
once gets down 81 that the leaves at the bot
tom die and fall off the crop gains nothing
1t may not he an object to pick out here and
there small spots that are down, but where
any Considerable extent of the crop is in this
condil ion, it is advisable to cut it at ONCE
| the crop is heavy. and it remains long on
the ground, il will be likely to smother the
life out Of the roots, so that little or no clover
grows afterwards. Hence we MAY saw tina.
where either grass or clover are much lud sed
the so Oncr the crop is cut the better
Much has been written about the proper
time to cut grass. That stalk is worth
more contains more nutriment the
time 1t is III blossom. we have no doubt but
1t does not follow from this that it is best to
Gu; every piece of grass when it is In this
stage. In some sections as in the western
part Of Vermont, along Lake Champlain-a
considerable extent Of ground is moved
which is set in great degree to the Poupra-
'eh$is, Kentucky blue grass. Jnnc.srass Of
some sections. This species throws up its
sccdstalk early IN the season. and if the
weather is dry the stalks are scattering, run.
ming to seed and dying before there Is much
bottom growth If the crop was cut while
it was in blossom. there would in many
instances be but precious little Of ii, but
where the land is strong, we have secp u
pretty good crop Of blades come up from the
,iltct Of June or July rains. OF course, by
waiting for this. three or four times as much
hay was obtained rs if the crop had been cut
when in blossom. 1t may be said that " hat
ever did blossom might have been cut III that
stage, and the second growth taken at a
second emitting: but there would not nave
been enough Of the first to make 1t an object.
Such cases. however, uIe not Common, and
do not invalidate the tile that the grass CROP,
generally, should be Cut before the seed is
formed.
AS to the modes Of making hay, we have
heretofore shown that clover is much better
when cured in cock. The arguments in
favor Of this mode are considerably strength
encd Since hay-chps came into use. They
keep off the rain, while they allow the hay
to remain so light that the process of curing
mat go on-lhe sap of the stems being OK.
PEELED BY SWen'ing, as 1t is called. and the
air CARRYING of the moisture, more or less,
ihe pFaSStS are Hol So TValiiy m1ut into
hay without exposure to the sun; but they
may be dried too much. II is not likely that
grass in blossom would Snil:r any ininrv
from all the sunshine it might have the day
1t was cut; but it would be better to cock il
up before night. and if it is protected from
wet by caps, the closc-observing farmer can
tell the amount Of drying that it Will after.
wards need.
Hay should be wltcd in the sun, but cured
in the cock. Better to he l,tte green than
too dry. If. on putting it into the barn.
there is danger of cheating in the NOW"
put on some SAL. Cattle will like it norc
the less.
Heat, light. and dry winds. will soon take
the starch and sugar which constitutes the
goodness Of hay, out of it: and with the
| addition of shower, render it almost worth.
less. Grass cured with tho least exposure to
| the driving winds and searching sunshine, is
more nutritious than if longer exposed. how.
ever good the weather may be. If ever
cared ii contains more woody fibre and less
nutlItivc matter.
The art Of haymaking. then. consists in
cutting the grass when the starch and sugar
are most fully developed and before .hey are
CONVEX led into seed and woody fibre: and
caring it up to the point when it will
answer to put it into the barn without head.
Ing. and 10 more.-Er.