Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-09
Having Time.

aYl I1me.
In the present month, begins the greai
hay harvest This is, in many respects
the most important in the whole year
Although the crop does not fill the space
In the public eye. as an article of foreign
commerce, which cotton does, it is yet oil
greater money value. Think of its funda-
mental use, the support of all kinds Of
farm-stock for six or seven months Of the
whole year. AS one says; 1t is in fact
the basis of all our operations, the keystone
which sustains them and gives them all
their success. The test of a farm is the
number of cattle it feeds, and the cattle
in turn feed the SOIL Let us, then, see to
it that our crop this year is well and sea-
sonably made and properly stored.
In preparing for this annual campaign,
be sure that all pressing labor is out efthe
way. This work is enough of itself to oc-
cupy ones time and thoughts while it lasts:
to have other cares superaded, harnesses
and Perplexes one so much as to make his
true and proper work very disagrceable.-
Get all other matters well ahead, SO as to
feel at ease about Them. Then, see that
the tools and implements are in compleye
order seythes. grind stones, ~mowing-ma-
chimes, hand-rakes, horse-rakes, pitch1ferks,
wagons, racks. and hay-caps. The extra
hired helps that engageged ?-enough.of
it?-and Of such a sort as to be reliable d?
The best time to cut hay. is an impOr-
tant matter to determine The end sought
in gathering hay. is, obviously, to cut it
when it contains Its most nurittive proper
ties, viz. mucilage, starch, gluten and su-
gar, in the best state for their preservation.
Experience shows that that period is when
the grass is just in full flower. After this
time, the fiber becomes woody and disagree
able. The Cyclopedia of Agriculture says:
1t has been proven that plants of nearly
all sorts, if cut when in full vigor, after
ward carefully dried, without any waste
of their nutritiVe juices, contain nearly
double the quantity of nourishing which
they do when allowed to attain their full
growth, aud make some progress toward de-
cay Yet, some good farmers hold that
Timothy should not be cut until passes
this stage, and has nearly ripened its seed;
AMI this chiefly for the reason that if cut
earlier, the roots are weakened and the
meadows gradually destroyed. Still, as a
general rule, the prevalent method of cut
ting "wben in the milk" is the right one.
When hay is to be cut with scythes. the
work should begin early in the day the
morning dew is a great help to the mower.
There should be a liberal resting time at
mid day, and then the work resumed and
carried on briskly until evening. A lunch
of plain food moistened with cool coffee or
h~ome-brewcd beer, may be brought into the
meadow in the middle Of each forenoon, if
the hands will be discontinued without it, but
it is poor pnlicy to keep the hands and
the stomach at work all the time, and three
good meals are best for any man, however
hard his work. There is enough heat if
time without the addition of fire
AS to the expediency &C now
machines, We declare decidedly in their
favor, especially on farms of considerable
They save time, labor, a great deal
of anxiety, and in the long run neney.-I
When the mOwing-machine issued, do
not cut a rod before before the dew is en-
tirely of, for when the hay is cut BY the
machine, unless very heavy, it will need
no stirring.
Make hay while the sun shines is a
good rule. but it may be carried too far in
time. We want the bright sun
shine first to wilt the hay thoroughly, then
ct the drying process stop. Rake up the
grass in high cocks while still hot. In
threatens, put on the hay caps; put
hem on by + o'clock to keep off heavy
The grass may lie in cocks two
lays or less, as convenient for the farmer.
IN a clear day, open the cocks. about the
middle Of the forenoon after the ground is
warm, for an airing, spreading the hay and
once or twice for two or three
hours hen haul to the barn. The pract-
&c of sailing hay, at the time of storing it
s quite common, and it is applied the
more abundantly when the hay is imper-
ectly cured. A little salt, say two or three
Iuaris to the tuD, can wisely be applied
More than this does little good. and on
he whole, may be be injuriOus-Aneri-
Agriculturist.