The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-20
.Tarnl anu GarDen.
HAY and lkny.ylukimg.

Very soon we shall hear the ring of the NOW.
ers whet-stone on the scythe or the click of the
sickle propelled by other than human muscle.
VI all the exhausting labor in the field, hand.
moving is one OF the hardest; it is even harder
IMAM Grading wheat or grain, because the grain
~ ,he cradle III some measure, balances him
that swings IT. moving machine Is. therefore
desirable ON any farm where twenty acres of
grass are to be cut. 1t is profitable in a neigh.
porhood where parties can join, to make hay and
exchange labor.
The best time to cut Timothy grass for hay is
when II Is IN second bloom, or before the seed is
1ormed-t tins Is called virgin hay and is the most
nutritious ana best relished by stock. When the
seed Is nearly ripe, it will still make good bav.
ana more pounds per acre than the first-but it
Is i,, not SO sweet and palatable to the animals.
"neh mixed with clover (which rpens little
before the timothy it should be cut earlier to
save most OF the foliage Of the clover. Pure
clover should be cut when two-thirds of the heads
are turned brown
Hreat damage Is done, and consequent loss en-
tahed' oy the bleaching process allowed in un-
timely or late cooking of the grass after cutting
even the dew of one night will damage the
hay to some extent. Our advice to our readers
Is to NOV early in the morning, and never at
tempt piece larger than five acres at a. time
unless indeed your hands are plenty, so that
the raking and cooking can 20 ON at the same
time that another team is moving then use
good horse-rake and two or three hours after the
grass Is cut, rake up in winrows and cock up as
soon as possible; give good round shape to the
cocks, and make them high az possible, so that
when they settle as they will by atmospheric
pressure they may expose as little OF the hay 10
the sun ana dew mot 20 mention showers AS pos
sible. Well-cured hay should look green and
smell sweet, and not look gray nor white. If
the weather is favorable, these cocks may stand
until the afternoon of the second day. when they
should be opened an hour or 50 before hauling
IN IS commenced, 70 allow the air to pass through
this needs only the lifting of OF about half the
cock, and the raising OF the balance slightly.
Should the weather be fitful and precautions.
you may haul IN your hay, # it is only half
cured. In this case have On hand some air
stacked lime, and sprinkle about d peck on ev-
cry load as it is placed either in NOW or stack.
nm nse 'hy SIT on green nay. Lime Is = con-
sutuent par. " most herbs eaten by cattle: they
need II 10 form bone; 80 YOU need not DO afraid
70 use II. Line IS an absorbent and will aid in
the perfect curing of your hay. When YOU come
to ieed 1t, you can shake 81 most Of it. Lime Is
contalned IN most OF the water which We drink
II enters into the food and drink of both man and
beast, asd Is not considered unhealthy. This
mas been thoroughly tried for years and always
with success. Were it necessary we would give
names OF parties. Other ytretc, OF grass should
be cut when in bloom Thousands if not mil
mons OF dollars are annually lost for want OF
proper care in curing hay,
IRON present indications, it is not improbable
mat We may have rainy season for 1868.
Thus FAR, certainly. rains have been abundant
and frequent. Now is the time TO prepare your
tools Write soon If YOU need a mower or horse
rake. Employ tie first rainy day TO make your
hAy-racSs; have your hand-rakes and pitch
forks in the best order, and then hurry up your
corn cultivation, 50 that no time may be lost
that could proiitably be employed to gather your
hay,
In the Heptr B03k it has been clearly proven
that hay Is the most valuable crop of the United
State, Is TO dollars and cent, IL is very val
liable Tor Missouri aud Illinois it Is of the ut-
most importance to eyey individual farmer. We
hope our readers my profit by these hints.