Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-06-17
E.IRLl' cut Hi.

1t is not time to cut grass for hay MAY |
III but il is good time to think about 1t |
and get ready. Not but that tho mower |
may be ready, the rake also, and the horse |
fork, and that most useful of all the ma
chimes, the tedder but there is something |
more that we wish to call the attention ofthe |
farmer to-something that he has had his |
attention called to as often perhaps as to
anything else we mean the early cutting
of the hay crop. How shall we emphasize
it sufficiently, or draw attention to 1t, that |
farmers will engage in what is so much for
their advantage-it is so hard to get out of
these old ruts where our fathers wheels
have been running so long?
Now there is damage of many millions
every year by cutting the grass in the way
we do. 1t is damage because we might
save that much. There are some farmers
that harvest their hay early. Now who are
these farmers? Are they our poorest, our
least educated? We believe that it will be
admitted that they are found only at the
head of their profession, men whose word
will not be disputed, and whose opinion
will be looked up to. Why then do we not
adopt their opinion, their practice, in this
one respect? 1t is because we are in these
ruts and we can't well get out, or rather we
do not want to old prejudices hold us.
Many, however have the fear of spoiled
hay upon them. Some have tried the ex-
perrin and failed; failed because they
did not cure their hay properly. Either a
rain damaged it for them, or it spoiled in
the cock or the now Besides, "there was
not so heavy a crop" This is bad enough.
1t is bad because it is bad practice. 1t is
needless or ignorant practice.
Hay cut early, esq ecially tender clover,
when all the leaflets are in full spread, and
but few blossoms appear, when the whole
thing is a tender, delicate mass, fit for pas
ture as yet, so far as the quality is concern
ed, when this mass is cut and dried as it is
ofton left exposed TO the sun without even
a single turning since the introduction of
the mower, the rich wealth of leaflets falls
to the ground, and this is the better part of
the hay, leaving the stems, and those I'M
dried, to spoil what few leaves may remain.
Equally unfortunate is another practice,
that of putting up hay in the evening cut
the same day, that is, green or early cut
portion may be dry, even the whole may
not be far from fit to go in; but, raking
and taking it up, either into the barn or
putting on cock, will hurt it if not spoil it;
for the dew gathers when we are not aware;
it begins early, four 10 five o'clock, accord
ing to the situation. 1t is insensible, and
therefore deceitful. This dew, which is
pure water, is the most harmful of all
moisture. 1t settles down upon and pene-
trates the hay, and so it goes in; this dew
spoils it. And yet people will work at their
hay, gathering and hauling it in till the
darkness arrests them, deeming little
dew of no consequence.
Another bad plan is to cut the grass ear
ly in the day when the dew is on, and so
leave it during the day. If somewhat
heavy, this will remain green and moist
till night, except the part exposed to the
sun. OF course no sane man will practice
in this way.
But to secure your hay, there are many
means to reach it. The tedder is the prln-
cipal keep this going all day till your hay
is cured remember "cured," not necessa-
rily dried to the last extent as is the case
with some. What is wanted is to have the
juices concentrated, (of course the outside
water must all be removed) They will
keep the hay instead of spelling it. 1t is
not desired TO have early cut hay, when in
the flush of its pasture life, too dry; it
wants to retain something of the virtue of
its maidenhood, the property of the grass;
and this the juices concentrated, not dried
will effect. There is the fragrance, even
improved-the plableness, tenderness,
pretty much the all as 1t was before the air
had carried OIL the noisture-for with the use
of the tedder the sun has less effect, indeed
but little, the warm air passing readily
through the loose mass and bearing oil
readily the water The same is the case in
warm cloudy day when air is stirring
This was finely exemplified two years ago
The tedder used, hay may be cut with
the first glimpse of the sun, especial
ly If there is air stirring. BY three o'clock
OF good hay day II will be cured and the
tedder constantly at work, repeating) will
have done the most of it. Then the rake
or rakes and team or teams should hurry
1t in-into the NOW that is better than to
| put on cock. 1t saves you much of the es-
sence of the hay, and retains the freshness,
also the color TO some extent. Then the
labor is less, the risk also, though with the
hay crop there is little risk in the cock.
But into tho cock ii must go if it is not suf-
iicently dried. The next day ii may be
finished oil, that is, exposed again to the
air, and then during the day hauled in.
A good way, perhaps as good us any, is
to commence cutting in the evening, say at
four O. clock, and cut till night if wanted.
A rain or the dew does not hurt this. The
only advantage in this is to get start.
What is cut in the evening is so much
ready in the morning for the tedder, and it
can be cured little sooner in the day the
next day; it can he secured with fair wealth
err, however green and early it may have
cut, and however stout II may have stood,
if it be the early or June clover Should a
rain set in and last day or two, it will not
hurt the green hay cut in the evening when
the dew was moistening it, though we pre-
fer to cut in the morning and gather the
same day if possible. Much close, con-
slant work will do it, and this is required
] There is but one harvest, and this short