Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-07-19
AGRICULTURAL
Hints for Having Time.

This is pre- emincnly the haying month
throughout the Northern Stats. And 1t Is
one of the most important operations OF the
whole year. Probably the statement isnot
over.drawn, which makes the annual hay
crop OF Tho single state Of New York ex-
coed in value the annual gold crop Of Cal
ilornil, taking it in the long rum The inn
portance Of cutting, curing aud storing 1t
in the best manner, can hardly BE- over-es-
iimaled. A few hints on this topic;
All are not agreed as to the best time for
cutting timothy some claim that II should
not be touched until the heads are plump
and full Of seed, others that it should be
cut as soon as the stalk is full grown and
the heads are bursting into blossom. lhe
majority hold the latter view-and wisely,
we think, especially where there are large
meadows to be cat. If it be left until the
grass is fully ripe, before commencing to
cut, the last part of the crop viii have be-
come hard and dry, certainly II there be
only moderate force OF workmen, aud II
many rainy days occur. Grass cut while
green contains much more nutrlment. ami
is more easily eaten than when over ripe.
In the process Of ripening the stem, the
starch, sugar, and gum are converted INTO
woody fiber. This is the useful design OF
nature TO stiffen the stalk, that 1t may sus-
tain the seeds until they are ripe, but 1t de-
slroys much of the plants nutrilive quail
ties. What we want in hay, is to preserve
rs much as possible OF the food qualities OF
good grass. Ii is perhaps 70 extravaganza
10 say that good, bright straw Is about as
valuable for folder. as grass cut after II Is
fully ripe. There is also this important
consideration in favor of early cutting, VIZ S;
the roots of the grass become less exhaust
ed, and yield more vigorous atler-srowth.
Nor is it small item that green cut hay
sends fewer foul seeds into the manure
heap.
hut the n,o7e of curing is hardly less
important than the time. There IS good
sense in the old maxim, #" Make hay while
the sun shines but hay may get too
much sunshine. If grass is orer-dred 10
wind and sun. it looses much OF lis sweet
ness and richness. Who does not know
that distilers OF plants always dry them in
The shade, thus preserving their oily por-
tons and fine flavors? So with hay it
may be so dried up by the sur as TO rem
der it little better for fodder than so mucn
brush-wood. We will thank the sun TO dry
off the dew, and 10 just wilt our grass, Then
we can almost dispense with his services.
Or, to be little more particular: We
will cut the grass in the forenoon, aud turn
it over in the afternoon. Next day, as soon
AS the dew is dried off, we will rake 1t up
into windows and let it he until The md
die of the afternoon, when, II well cured,
IL NAV be caried in or cooked up. Next
day. If the weather be good, the cocks may
be opened awhile, and then carted IN, or
stacked. If not convenient to house IT at
once, il may stand in the cock unlnJured ior
several DAYS. If rain should get into the
windrows or cocks, they must be spread ana
dried. just here the hay caps come IN play
and each cock OF hay may with very liitie
expense be safely tented, and be almost as
secure as though stored in the barn.
The manner Of puttng up the cocks is
no triflng thing. 1t is not enough to roll
the hay into big bundles; for if thus man
aged. the cocks will absorb rain instead of
shedding it, and will be very apt 10 blow
over in high winds. Let them be laid up
carefully, by placing one iork-full on top OF
the other, making the heaps TALL aud not
broad, and dressing them off with the pitch
fork, like Il matched roof. fhey VIII then
stand several weeks of all sorts of weather,
uninjured.
Sometimes it is found necessary to get in |
hay when a little too green. In such cases,
il is well to mix in an occasional layer OF
old hay or dry straw. This will absorb
the surplus moisture OF the green hay, and
the dry fodder will itself be improved by
it. 1T is also an excellent plan TO have sew
eral places for storing hay, so as not to be
obliged 10 put more than one load TO a sin
gle NOV in 8 day. Let it not be trodden
down much when first put in.
And before leaving the topic, let us re-
mind the reader that much labor, time. and
expense will be saved by she use of the
"horse pitch fork (" for unloading. We
have described and Illustrated several The
poorest one we have ever seen is far better
than none. Every farmer having half a
dozen or more acres of grass, should get
The best one within his reach. They are
now on sale in most parts OF the country.
The best kind with ropes and pulIeys all
complete, costs not more than $40 or SIP,
and will soon pay for disclaimer. Agri.