Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-07-06
Farm, Garden, Kitchen and Shop

HAY TIME.-It is needless to review the
arguments and state the reasons why grass
should be cut early. Our readers are well
aware that we have repeatedly urged the
adoption of the new practice. Many OF
them have tried it TO their entire satisfac-
ton. Those who have not, can have the
opportunity TO try it now.
The reasons most commonly urged for
letting grass stand tin after the 4th of Ju-
~, are that it will thicken up at the bot
tom, and the crop will be heavier No
doubt on some pieces it would But the
trouble is that grass cannot all be cut at
once. we could do as we wished, cut all
our grass on the very day when it was just
right, we could afford perhaps, to wait
But we know very well that if we put off
cutting one piece till it is all in blossom,
another piece will at the same time be in
the same condition. If we put off the be-
ginning we shall find ourselves very late in
thGending.
Those who have swales TO cut after the
upland is cut and housed, will find the hay
ing dragging along into August, or perhaps
even into September. For such it is all
the more important to begin now. No
matter if it does seem too early. If you
don't begin now, you will be sure to wish
you had begun earlier, long before you are
through. But suppose certain piece
i t.1-. atf Ia, hnt+np,
that growth is not lost by cutting early.
II will appear in the aftermath. Even if
it did not, if a ton cut now is worth more
than a ton and half cut in the middle Of
July, you need not fear any loss. That it
is worth n good deal more cut early we
have abundant testimony of practical far
mers and dairymen. They all concur that
early cut grass is decidedly the best to feed
either to cows in milk or to fattening cat
tie.
Look over a rich and luxurant pasture.
Here and there are places where the grass
has shot up in the favorable weather Of
June, headed out and nearly ripened its
seed. Will the cattle touch it? Every
farmer knows that they will nearly starve
first They prefer the young green grass,
and work hard for it, neglecting what APP
pears to be so rank and luxuriant Why
is this? 1t is rich juicy, succulent, sweet
The know the difference. But the differ
ence between that dry full grown grass in
the pasture and the short sweet heritage be-
low it, is only the difference between over
ripened grass and green juicy grass in the
hay field. If you let it stand till it thick
ems up at the bottom, the older grass which
you ought to cut now, will be hard, dry and
unpalatable.
1t would seem that this commonly OBJ
served fact ought to be enough to settle the
question 1t is the plainest of all rules
that if we would have cattle thrive We
should consult their appetites. They have
likes and dislikes as well as we. They viii
not thrive on what they do not relish any
better than we should. They may ca
some TO keep from starving. 1t may there
fore spend" better, or 90 little farther
ipul - llll- VIC buJCNJ anu tlllll vi lCO'll
stock, to see how little we can get it thrC
the winter on? Is it not rather to see foN
much we can make them eat, how mucl
valuable produce we can get out Of them
or how much valuable growth we can pu
upon them?
Again it is said that it is harder to eur
when cut early. That is so. 1t takes
little more time and care, but if we are al
raid of little work, why not let it 90 en-
tirely? 1t would save a world of troubl
and fret and muscle to shirk haying alto
gether. 1t is no very easy work at hes
but this is not the right view to take of !
If it is better cut green and properly cure,
let Us pitch in and do the best we can
get it in such condition.
Certain kinds Of grass like the June {
Kentucky Blue Grass, so common on a
our farms, ripen up very early and vel
rapidly. They were in full blossom for
night ago. They should have been cut
that time on many farm, The long
they stand the poorer they grow. 9th
grasses, like Timothy and red top, are har
l. in blossom even yet They are late
coming into flower. We can take the ca
liest lots first, and leave the red top al
Timothy a little longer. But let us ma
beginning somewhere, and put the wo
ahead as fast as possible
With a good moving machine, gOc
tedder and good horse rake, we need II
fear the weather, not much. We ha
pretty much the command of the situatio
Let us make the most of it.-lLas8 Pho
man.
MANAGEMENT OF Sows.-The Anne
can Stock Journal says:-"As the time
her farowing approaches, a sow should
well supplied with food especially if 5
be young SOW, and this her first lit
and also carefully watched, in order to pl
vent her devouring the after-birth, a
thus engendering a morbid appetite viii
will induce her to llupon her own your
A SOW that has once done this can ne,
afterwards be depended upon. Hung
thirst, or irritation of any kind often inc
ces this unnatural conduct"
GIRDLING BARREN FRUIT TREEs.-N
have heretofore seen it stated on good
thority that barren fruit trees had be
converted into fruitful ones, by girdli
them while in bloom. The directions
to remove a narrow ring of bark abb
three-fourths of an inch wide entirely
ound the tree just below the limbs, be
careful not to injure the wood.
To DESTROY DoCK-A writer in the
+. Farmer says: In the spring of 1867
tried an experiment on one-fourth of
acre, and in the spring of 1868, tried
same on one and a quarter acres, Fl
which ! took about 2200 plants, at hay
time there were less than one dozen sta
ing. My method is to cut the root alb
one or one and half inches below the
face and carry them off the field u:
chisel or some implements about two in
es wide, with a handle of sufficient len
to enable the operator to stand erect w
using it. l have no particular time
cutting. Any time will answer when t
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