Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-14


: hundred met under the hospitable roo
{ Of Henry Holmes, Esq, on the evenin
, Of Feb. 9th, S. ID. Conant, presiding
The following subject was discussed
, The best time and manner of cutting ant
curing hay. ~
ISAAC GLYSN said that there was !,
great difference in the time when diiieren
varieties of grass should be cut anc
care should be taken to cut those varie
ties which ripen earliest, June grass or
dinarily should be cut between the Goth
of June and the first of July. If allow
ed to stand much beyond that period the
fibre becomes woody and unfit for use
In regard to clover much depends upon
its growth; if the growth be large the
stalk will rot at the bottom and become
worthless, and in either case if not cut
early the leaves and heads crumble off
when dry. 1t should also be cured with
as little exposure to the sun as possible.
The speakers method was to NOW and
spread it out the first day under hot
sun, then cock it up and let it stand
through the succeeding day, then open
and air it thoroughly and put in the
barn. Herdsgrass should be cut about
the time the blows are falling off, as the
stalk is then mature and the seeds form
ing. Swale grass should also be cut in
June if possible, if cut at a later period
it is worthless except for bedding. If
hay has not been fully dried salt may be
used to advantage-never tried lime.
JOEL DAVIS thought that the hay crop
is by far the most profitable one of this
section, hence more care should be used
in its cultivation and cure than farmers
generally bestow. Hay may be put into
the barn in a greener condition than most
farmers suppose and the quality of the
hay will be improved. 1t is also mis-
taken idea that leaving large cracks in
the barn and the doors open tends to dry
and cure the hay, the barn had better be
closed tightly. Hay caps are also an
excellent investment especially when a /
moving machine is used Hay should |
also be raked early in the afternoon when
warm and not left out until the dew be- |
gins to fall The best time to cut all va
rieties is when there is the most sap in
the stalk. Red-top will stand longer
without injury than other varieties. He
did not agree with Mr.. Glynn in regard
to the utility of salt; he thought it tend
ed to moissen and blacken the hay and
was positive injury
A. A.WyMAN of Athens thought that
farmers do not commence haying soon
enough though the application of ma
chinery to haying obviated the difficulty
The great trouble in haying
is the excessive labor and hence DELAY
and often loss. The more hay can be
cured away from the sun the better is the
quality of hay. The speaker agreed
with Mr.. Davis that tight barn and
we'll closed doors is the best in which to
cure green or not thoroughly dried hay.
Did not believe in sailing hay to any ex-
tent.
HENRY WALKER of Woodstock said
that with reference to the grass crop the
succeeding year it should not he cut too
early as the sun dries up and kills the
roots. This however could not be the
case in wet seasons. The farmer should
however adopt the most profitable season
having reference solely to the quantity of
ground and help. Early cut hay is not
always the best though cattle will eat it
better. The hay is best and most nutri-
tious when the stock is full grown before
cutting. Hay that has no dew or water
in 1t may be put into the barn quite
green with safety and the quality will be
improved thereby. If the weather be
dry and hot there is danger of moving
to closely especially is this the case if a
machine he used.
ASHER PUTNAM said that grass should
not be cut too closely especially herds
grass as the embryo root of the succeed
ing crop dries up. The feeding of now
ings in the fall is very injurious. The
more that can be left on the ground in
the fall the better the crop the next year.
S. ID. CoNANT said that regard should .
be had somewhat to the kind of stock ,
the hay was to be fed to in determining
the time of cutting. For mich COWS.
sheep and lambs, early cut hay is un-
doubtedly the best, though perhaps not
so nutritious.
Voted to meet at the dwelling-house of
JOEL DAVIS, Esq, Feb. 18th, at 6 o'clock
F. NJ. Subject for discussion (" What
will most tend to make agriculture pleas
ant and profitable as pursuit" Speak
ers, Lewis S. Walker, Francis Daniels. h
\. II. BIxBY, Secretary.
= Nasty remarks, in a private note.