The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-06-11
HAVING TIME.

In The present month pcglnS the great
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, rs an article of foreign
commerce, which cotton does, il is yet OF
greater money value. Think of lis fun
damenal use, the support of all kinds OF
farm-stock for six or seven months of tho
whole year. AS one says: at Is, IN
fact, the basis of all our farm operations,
the keystone which sustans them and
gives them all their success. The test OF
farm is the number Of cattle il feeds,
and the cattle in tuIn feed the soil" Let
us, then, see 10 it that our crop this year
is well and scasC nably pade aud properly
stored.
In preparing for this annual campaign,
be sure TINT all other pressing labor i; out
OF the way. This work is enough Of IL
self TO occupy ones time and thoughts
while it lasts; to have other cares super
added, harnesses and perplcxes one 80
much rs to make his true and proper
work very dsaerecabIc. Get all other
matters well ahead, so rs To feel at ease
about them. Then, see that the tools
and implements are in complete order
Scythes, grudstones, moving machines,
hand-rnkes, lorse.rakes pilch-torks, wag-
onS, racks, aud hay-cap>. The extra hir-
ed help-is hat engaged enough Of i'll
-and Of such n sort as TO be reliable
The best time TO cut hay, is nm impor-
tanl matter 10 determine. The end sought
in gathering hay is, b,iouoIy, to cut it
when it contains its most nutiiiive prop
critics, viz: muciage, starch, gluten and
sugar, in the best state of their preSer'a-
lion. Experience shows that that period
is when the grass is just in full flower
After this time, the fiber becomes woody
and indigestible. The CycloI irdia Of Ag-
ricullure says: 1t has been proved that
plants of pcarly all sorts, if cut when in
full UigOr, afterwards caiefull, dried, with
out any waste of their nutrlli,e juices,
contain nearly double the quantity of
nourishing matter which they do when
allowed 10 attain their full growth, and
make some progress towards decay
Yet some good iaruerS hold that iino-
thy should not be cut until il passes this
stage, and has nearly ripcned It's seed;
and this chiefly for the reason thai, it cut
earlier, the roots arc weakened aud tho
meadows gradually destroyed. Still, as
II general rule the prevalent method of
cutting grass "when in the milk is the
right one.
When hay is to be cut with scythcs, tho
work should begin early in the day; tho
morning dew is n grent help TO tho NOW
er. There should be liberal resting
time at midday, and then the work re-
sumed aud carried on bri,kly until eve.
ming. A lunch of plain food, moistened
with cold coffee or homc-brewed beer, may
be brought into the meadow in the mid
die of each forenoon and afternoon, il tho
hands will be discontcntcd without il, but
il is poor policy to keep the hands and tho
stomach both at work al the time, and
three good meals are best for any man,
however hard his work. There is enough
heat in haying time without the addition
Of "tire-water." AS TO the expcdiency
Of using moving machines, we declare de-
cidedly in their favor, especially on farms
Of considerable extent. They save time,
labor, great deal Of anxiety, aud in the
long un, money. When the moving ma
chine is used, do not cut u rod before the
dew is entirely off, for when the hay is
cut by tho machine, unless very heavy, it
will need no stirring.
Make hay while The sun shines" is tho
rule, but it may be'carriod too far in hay
ing time. We want the bright sunshine
first 10 wilt the hay thoroughly; then let
the drying process stop. Rake up tho
grass in high cocks while still hot. If
rain threatens, put on the hay caps; put
them on by 4 o'clock TO keep oil heavy
dews. The grass may lie in cocks Two
days or less, as convenient for the farmer.
On clear day, open the cocks, about tho
middle Of the forenoon, after the ground
is warm, for an airing, Spreading the hay
and turning once or vice for two or threo
hours; then haul to the barn. The prac-
'ice Of sailing hay, ut the time of storing
it, is quite common, and it is applied Tho
more abundantly when the hay is impcr-
fectly cured. a little salt, say two or
three quarts 10 the lun, can wisely he ap-
piled. More than this does lillle good,
and on the whole may be injurious.