White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20
for TIE farn'fr.
Best WAY TO Cure Grass for Hay.

Best way 10 CuFc UfdSS iOE 1dys
The New Bedford (Mass) Mercury says
that about fourteen years since, Gen. Thomp-
con, of that town, "who does his own think
ing" rejecting upon the mode Of hay making,
was led to inquire why it could not be cured
as old ladies cure herbs, it certainly being as
important in one case as in the other. to pre-
serve the juice. He accordingly experimental,
and soon adopted his present system:
On good hay day he cuts his grass, leaving
of about 90 O'Clock A. M. His men then de-
vote themselves to spreading, turning and stir
ring up the hay, that the air may pass through
IL, and all the external moisture be thoroughly
dried. After elmer, this is done again, and
continued till about five o'clock, when the
hay is raked into winrows, pitched on to cart,
and stored in the barn. OF course, if the day
till the next good day. Nothing is done to
prevent heating, though salt. about four quarts
to the ton, is sometimes thrown over it. from
the idea that cattle will better relish the hay;
often no salt is used, and the General does not
consider its use at all essential. This is the
simple process. The result is that in the
Spring of the year we have seen clover in his
barn, cut the previous Summer, the heads
blushing as if just mown, and breathing as de-
licious an aroma as when taken from the field.
Of course the grass is not cut till it is fully de-
veloped-we do not mean dried up. We have
full faith in Gen. Thompson 5 ethod, because
its excellence has been thoroughly tested.
In note to the Boston Cultivator, attached
to the above extract, Gen. Thompson says
As to the time of cutting my grass, I con-
slider it fully developed" when in full bloom,
and not till then. At that time the juice has
changed its character from a watery substance
to a nutritious quality, and that am DESTROYS
of retaining in the hay, large portion of
which is lost by the usual process of drying.
frequently cut 213 tons to the acre, and have
no more trouble saving it with one days max.
ing. than with lighter grass, except in such
cases frequently remove portion of the grass
as soon as cut, to an adjoining field, for the
purpose of drying the external moisture, and
giving more room for that remaining in the
field. He also says:
Last year purchased hay tedder, and find
tan invaluable assistant, thoroughly spreading
and turning the hay, and doing the work of
fifteen men, and in much more thorough
manner than it can be done by hand.
The editor of the Boston Cultivator, in al.
luding to the same subject, says:
Gen. Thompson tells US that he has followed
the system given above for fifteen years, and
with perfect success, never having lost a pound
of hay by spelling, in this length Of time.
To further illustrate the advantages of his
system, in securing far greater amount of nu.
tritious properties in hay. he says he has pair
of carriage horses that have eaten nothing but
hay so cured, not spoonful Of grain having
been fed to them for two years, and that they
are in as good condition as though fed with
grain.
As another evidence of the increased nutri.
tious quality of hay SO cured, be states an in
stance in which neighbor got out of hay, and
could not at that time conveniently procure it
elsewhere, and was supplied from the Generals
barn. The dairy woman soon began to inquire
what had been done to the COWS that caused
them to produce so much more milk than usual.
and was put of by her help-meet by remsrking
that it was only her notion, or misconception, but
in day or two more, not only the quantity in.
creased, but quality had improved to such
degree that she prevailed upon her husband to
accompany her to the milk-room and see for
himself, when the mystery was explained to the
great admiration of both, he having become