The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-07-07
B1DDEFoRD, ME-. FRIDAY MORNING,

of implements and machines worked by
horse.muscles instead Of man-muscles, are
rapidly coming into use.
The moving machine, upon which man
sits and cuts his grass and clover, the tedder,
upon which he sits and turns tho hay while
making, aud the rake upon which he sits
while gathering it together after II is'made,
the loading fork, attached to the hay wagon
or cart for hauling It to the barn when cured,
and the fork in the barn for taking it from
the hay-rig to the NOW, aro all worked by
horse or OK power, and will bc seen in opera.
ton in hay. y.felds to greater or less extent
within a few days. How unlike all this to
the old way when all this work was done by
hand labor, except the hauling Of the crop
to the barn where deposited for use or safe
keeping. So with the grain.iield, the reaper,
binder, &C., relieve men from back aching
rcaping, swinging of the cradle, and back
aching ard thumb-achins binding, all Of
which we were no stranger to; for VIC have
bent over the sickle, swung the cradle and
bound grain, till weary. worn and tired,
when We gladly welcomed tho going down
of the sun, and the coming Of Saturday
night. that we might rest from such fatiguing
labor in the burning of summer sun. Bet.
ter days we are glad to chronicle have dawned
upon the present and rising generations.
The present is a very great Improvement over
the old style of hay.makins and grain.har-
yesting, rs none can deny.
Clover should be cut when in full bloom
mixed grasses when the bulk Of them is in
full flower. when the seeds of the earliest
grasses are fully formed, as Of May and June
grass, sweet.scented vernal, and when mea.
dow fox.tail and meadow.fescur are just be-
ginning to show their floral organs; limo
thy and orchard.grass should be cut in full
bloom. Early, rich, top.dressed meadows
are the first to be cut, and when lodged,
should be cut regardless of any other rule
but that Of fair weather; cut close, for an
inch at the bottom outwcighs several at the
top; it should bo winrowed before night and
cooked, If dry enough. Clover should be
cut when the dew is of, and not spread out
like the grasses, bit cured in its first stages
in swathes, turning them the second day,
and again and again, IL necessary, until fit
to put into small cocks, and then with as
little shaking as possible, so as to retain the
leaves unbroken as much as possible; for
clover thus we'll cured is second to no other
forage fer milch cows, and by some milk
makers it has been called the best forage
feed that can be put before milch COWS and
sheep.
Now is the time to put the hay-implcmcnts
in readiness, If it has not already been done.
Do not wait until the day to use them ar-
rives, and then DO constrained to delay work
in order to pos. off to the implement vender,
or repairer, before anything can be done.
The prompt thrifty, live farmer takes time
by the forelock and never delays for stern
demonstrations, us alas hc docs who marches
or mopes to the ring of the September scythe.
Where three crops are to be taken, tho first
should come of earlier than If two only arc
to bo cut; and If but one, then this will be
the latest cut. Do not lot hay-making intor-
fere with the work Of weed.kiing. Mark
this and act like wise men; then is your re-
ward sure.-Bosion Cultirdtor.