Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-07-25
AmitnItnraL department.
Hints for Haying Time.

uuLS 4uA nnyIuS 4IuI6t
This is prominently the haying moath
throughout the Northern States And it is
one of the most important operations Of the
whole year. Probably the statement is not
oTer-drawn, which makes the annual hay-crop
of the single state of New York exceed in val
ue the annual gold crop Of California, taking
it in the long run The Importance of cutting
curing and storing il in the best manner, can
hardly be over estimated A few hints on
this topic
All are not agreed as to the best time for
cutting timothy some claim that il 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. The majority
hold the latter view-and wisely, we think es-
pecially where There are large meadows to be
cut. IF it be left until the grass is fully ripe,
before commencing to cut, the last part OF the
crop will have become hard and dry, certainly
if their be only moderate !orce of workmen,
and if mary rainy days occur Grass cut
while green, contains much more nutriment,
and is more easily eaton than when over ripe.
In the process of rpening the stem, the starch,
sugar, and gum are converted into woody fl
bre. This is the useful design of nature to
stlfen the stalk, that it may sustain the seed
until they are ripe, but it destroys much OF
the plants nutritiye qualities. What we
want in hay, is to preserve as much as posi-
BILE of the food qualities of good grass. 1t is
pehaps no extravaganza to say that good,
bright straw is about as valuable for fodder,
as grass cut after it is fully ripe. There is
also this important consideration in favor Of
early cutting, viz the roofs Of the grass
become less exhausted, and yield a more Wig
orous after-growth. Nor is it a small item
that green cut hay sends fewer foul seeds into
the manure heap.
But The Mode of curing is hardly less impor,
tant than the time. There is good sense in
the CID maxim, MAKE hay while the sun
shines :" but hay may get too much sunshine.
If grass is OveTdried in wind and sun, it loses
much of its sweetness and richness. Who
does not know that distiIlerS of plants always
dry them in the shade, thus preserving their
oily portions and fine flavor? So with hay
it may be so dried up by the sun as to render
it litter bette for fodder then so much brush
wood. We will thank the sun to dry off the
duw, and to just wilt our grass, then we can
almost dispense with his services.
Or, to be little more particular We
will cut grass in the forenoon, and turn it over
in the afternoon Next day, as soon as the
duW is died of, we will rake it up into wind
rows and let it lie until the middle of the
afternoon, when, if well cured, it may be cart
ed in, or cooked up. Next day, if the wealth
er be good, the cocks may be opened awhile,
and then carted IN, or stacked. If not con-
venient TO house it at once, it may stand in
the cock uninjured for several days If rain
should get into the windrowS or cocks, they
must be spread and dried. Just here the lag
caps come in play and each cock of hay
may with very little expense be safely tended,
aud be almost as secure as though stored in
the barn.
The manner Of putting up the cocks is no
trifing thing 1t is not enough to roll the
hay into big bundles for if thus managed
the cocks will absorb rain instead OF shedding
it, and will be very apt to blow over in high
winds. Let them be laid up carefully, by
placing one forkful on top of the other, ma
king the heaps tall and not broad, and dres-
sing them of with the pitchfork, like a thatch-
ed roof They will then stand several weeks
of all sorts of weather, unil jured.
Sometimes, it is found necessary to get in
bay when little too green. In such cases, it
is well to mix in an occasional layer of old
hay or dry straw This will absorb the sur
plus mois ture of the green hay, aud the dry
fodder will itself be improved by it. 1t is al
so an excellent plan TO have several places
for storing hay, so as not to be obliged to
put in more than one load to single NOW in
day. Let it not be tTodden down much
when first put in.