The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-20
.Tarnl an0 6arOen.


Very soon We shall hear the ring of the NOW.
ers whet-stone on the scythe, OF 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
than grading wheat or grain, because the grain
Al the' cradle, IN some measure, balances him
that swings 1t. moving machine is. therefore
desirable on any farm where twenty acres of
grass are to be cut. 1t is Profitable in a neigh
oorhood 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
formed-this is called virgin hay and is the most
nutritious and best relished by stock When the
seed is marry ripe it will still make good bav.
ana more pounds per acre than the first-but it
Is not so sweet and palatable to the animals.
"hen mixed with clover which ripens a little
before the Timothy, it should be cut earlier to
save most OF the foliage Of the cloyfr Pure
clover should be cut when two-thirds OF the heads
are turned brown
Great damage is done, and consequent los, en-
tailed, by the bleaching process allowed in IN
tiiheiy or late cooking of the grass after cutting
EVEN the dew OF one night will DAMAGE the
nay to some extent. Our advice to our readers
is to NOW early in the morning, and never at
temp, piece larger than five acres at a time
unless indeed your hands are plenty, so that
the raking and cooking can 90 on at the same
time that another team is mowing,) 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 as high as possible, 50 that
when they settle Jas they will by atmospheric
PRESSURE they may expose as little of the hay to
the sun and dew mot 20 mention showers as pos
sible WeIl-cured hay should look green and
smell sweet, and not look gray nor white. If
'he weather is favorable, these cocks NAV stand
until the afternoon OF the second day when thew
should be opened an hour or 50 before hauling
IN Is commenced, to allow the air to pass through;
TINS needs only the lifting off Of about half the
cock and the raising Of the balance slightly.
Should the weather be fitfll and precarious.
you may haul in your hay. if il is onIv hall
cured. In this case have on hand some air.
Stacked lime, and sprinkle about peck on ev-
cry load a. II Is placed either in NOV or stack
D,"t use daY sat on green hay. Lime is a con-
stituent part OF most herbs eaten by cattle; they
need II 10 form bone; 30 YOU need not be afraid
to use 1t. Lime is an absorbent and will aid in
the perfect curing OF your hay. When you come
TO feed It, you can shake off most of it. Lime Is
contained in most of the water which we drink
1t enters into the food and drink Of both man and
beast, aud IS not considered unhealthy. This
has been thoroughly tried for years and always
with success. Were it necessary We would give
names OF parties. Other varieties of grass should
be cut when in bloom. Thousands, if not mil
lions, Of dollars are annually lost for want of
proper care in curing hay
FROM present indications, it is not improbable
that We may have rainy season for 1865.
thus FAR certainly, rains have been abundant
and frequent Now is the time to prepare your
tools. Write soon if you need mower or horse
rake Employ the first rainy day to make your
hay-racks; have your hand-rakes and pitch
forks in the best order and then hurry up your
sorn cultivation, that no time may be lost
that could profitably be employed to gather your
hay
In the Hlper Book it mas been clearly proven
that hay Is the most valuable crop Of the United
States, as 70 dollars and cents 1t is very val
liable for Missouri and Illinois it is of the ut
most Importance TO evey individual farmer We
hope our readers may profit by these hints