Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-22
About Haymaking.

Come, boys, hitch up the mower, and we'll
cut the ten-acre lot today. Here it is the 10th
Of July, and no grass cut down yet | don't
believe in feeding all straw to the stock next
winter, but do believe in feeding dried grass
and if that field remains much longer, there
will be nothing but dead stocks to cut. Early
cut hay is far more valuable to feed out than
that which is not cut until it is ripe"
At this iuncture, neighbor Smith who
usually times his haying operations by
mine, because, he says have "brom-
etcr," takes fresh quid, and inquiries
"Ain't ye bcginnin' littIo airlyY
"No. If the season hadn't been so back
ward should have commenced a week ago;
but, as it is, | hope to get my grass cut in
time to be paatable to the animals next win
ter"
But don't you think it spends better not
to cut it till its about ripe ?"
perhaps it win spend better il cut then /;
but the question is when to cut it so that the
hay will make the best quality Of food aud
from experience | have found that period to
be when the plant is just opening its blossoms.
Besides, have submitted the question to a
competent jury, which was my stock last win.
ter, and they unanimously agreed with me,
and if they are not judges of good hay, who
isl"
but them scientific felers say it's got the
most goodness in it when its ripe
"Ycs, | know they say various wise things,
which, unfortunately do not always prove to
be practicable. Now, don't pretend to
know what is the amount of gluten, starch,
sugar. or other elements contained in the grass
which | cut so early, but do know that my
stock cat it up cleaner, like it better, and
keep in better condition when fed on it, than
when kept on hay which remained in the field
until it was ripe before it was mown; and
that is all am particular about knowing OF
the matter, from practical point Of view"
"Well, | always kinder thought they liked
il BETTER but don't know"
"Certainly they do. Stock will eat early
cut hay, even if it is Of second or third quali-
ty and leave but few orts. Grass in which
there are good many weeds and brakes
should always be cut early. The English
grasses will depreciate the least by leaving
until nearly ripe. Fodder which if allowed to
remain until il has seeded is worthless, if cut
quite early, makes very good feed for sheer
and young stock. What old lady nurse would
think Of letting her herbs remain until dead
ripe before cutting them2 No, she gathers
them while in blossom, SO as to get all thu
good of them" she says. It's just so with tn,
plants we use for fodder for our stock--cut
them while in blossom, and we get all the
good there is in them"
at don't look ike being good hay day
it's so cloudy"
CLEAR days are not always the best hay
days"
"What kind of weather do you think il
best ~
81 consider cloudy day, with fresh
southwest wind preferable A clear da.
and hot sun is not essential to haymaking
There is great error which too many of on
farmers fall into-they make their hay al
together too much. To make good hay gras
requires to be thoroughly dried not scorchc,
and burned. No doubt but the very hes
method of curing hay is to do it under cover
but this is not practicable to any considerab
extent. The best hcrdsgrass hay | ever saw
was moved after the dew was off, put into tn
barn green spread out thin, and thussmad
under cover, without allowing the sun to ial
on it,"
How about cloyerP
"Cloyor should be mown when dry, willie,
in the sun, and then, if possible made in tn
cock by sweating. 1t can then be handle,
without breaking off and losing the leaves
which are the most valuable portion of tn,
plant Yes sir it's my opinion we make
our hay altogether too much
"'Twouldn't make much difference whel
you cut your hay, if you was goin' to pres
it up and sell it, would it'll"
Perhaps not but it's only in very rar
and particular cases farmer can afford to sci
his hay
Does your promoter say fair weather to
day."
"Yes the mercurial column is pretty high
and has been so for some days"
is that always sure sign of good wealth
err"
"Generally so but | find barometer i
not always to be depended upon. ltrequire
good deal of practice and observation t
enable one to judge of the weather from it
changes"
1t falls for storms, don't it ?"
Most always. But it is not always a tru
prophet. 1t will sometimes fall and ris
without any corresponding changes in tn
weather. Yet there are many times, as
the case of sudden squalls and showers, who
it is sure to give the alarm"
Does it pay to have one2"
"Yes, think it does remember OF
instance last haying season. We had exper
, enced three days fog storm, with the win
still fresh to the east. In the morning | N
/, tced the mercury in my barometer was risir
' fast, notwithstanding it was still thick al
q foggy, and | knew, therefore, we should ha'
!, fair weather in twelve hours or less so '
! set our men to moving, and worked nearly
day, while our neighbors' crews were lyiI
still, fearing the weather. 1t is also hanC
I, about foretelling thunder storms when the
r is hay out. But, though | have observed al
a studied one almost daily for many years, y
even now | would not pretend to be wis
h., 49, 81 a