Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-22
Cutting Grass Early-Clover Hay.

am glad TO see so much said in favor of
cutting hay early There is undoubtedly
much room for improvement in this direction.
Timothy, cut when the earliest heads are ripe
enough to she'll when feeding, fails to give as
good satisfaction as earlier cut hay, especial
iy if the latter is a mixture Of clover and
other grasses The best hay have ever fed
was some two-thirds clover aud the rest timo-
thy and june grass, grown thick and fine, cut
early, and well cured, without rain or too
much hot sun. | think stock will do as well
on such hay alone as on timothy so ripe as TO
begin to she'll, and four to six quarts Of oats
day besides OF course, if timothy is cut
earlier there will be less difference. But still
| prefer the above mixture of clover and
other grasses, if properly grown and made
into hay This is the main point, and as but
little has been said in regard to clover, my
remarks will mostly relate to that.
1t is now time to cut early clover in this
latitude The last week in june aud the first
in July is not only the best time to cut clover,
whether the second crop is to be saved for
seed or turned under for wheat but clover
cut at this time makes the best hay. A good
seeding, on good land will produce thick,
fine growth Of some two tons dry hay per
acre A heavier crop would be coarser, OF
injured by lodging. This, if cut when the
clover is in blossom and spread long enough
to become well wilted, but not begin to crum.
bic and waste, and then cured in the cock
with little airing before housing if needed
will make the best hay.
Here | wish to say few words about the
hay tedder | have never used one, bu
knowing that clover hay made in the SUI
crumbes and wastes when handled, it seem,
to me that something like this must be tn,
case when clover is cured 10y stirring in tn,
way described. A tedder may do very wei
when clover is first cut, and lies thick anC
heavy on the ground But after it is wei
wilted the effect must be different. Tn,
leaves dry much sooner than the stalk, and
then very easily crumble to pieces The
smaller flower stems also dry before the thick
er but end, and many heads may be lost
while much loss of leaves and heads mus
lessen the value Of clover hay. When Glove
has stood proper time in the bunch it il
toughened, and may be sufficiently aired ans
dried to be taken in without any loss. CaI
it be as well cured and saved with tcdde
without the trouble of putting in the cock
| Will some one or more of the readers of tn,
Cwtirator and Country Gentleman observ,
the effect of the frequent use of the tedde
ON clover, and report?
Much might be given showing the value o
clover hay, and that it is especially preierre,
by many for sheep and cows. But while
forbear further reference to such accounts
there is one evidence OF the superior value o
clover hay that | would like to see explained
and that is, | have frequently noticed tina
clover is quoted much higher than meadow
hay in the English markets. For instance
in the Mark Lane Express tFeb. 10, 1866,
ind the following table -
HAY Markets.
SmitsfeH. Cumberland. ganeeiapei.
Meadow hay SIS to l0s. e0s. to MS SIS. to liOs.
Glover, los to laj i0l to 1876 l0j to 40
There is difference of from 20s. to 30s
sterling, in gold, per ton in favor Of Glove
hay, and many quotations might be given {,
the same effect Now ! would like to know
what makes this difference. IS clover ha,
better or is the meadow hay not so goot
there, as in this country OF what grasse
is meadow hay composed, and how do sucl
grasses compare with our timothy Is Glove
hay better there than here, and if so, why
The quotations, which run up to HOS som
s35 in gold per ton, show that clover hay j
appreciated. What gives it this high value
Is there any other reason than thick, fin,
growth, cutting early, and curing in way t.
preserve all, leaves and heads included, il
the best manner2 In fine, is there anything
in the manner Of growing and curing Glove
hay in England superior to that practiced b,
our most careful farmers here? VIII som,
one familiar with the practice of growing anc
making clover hay in both countries, pleas,
answer
ORLEANS Co., n. Y. L.