The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-07-28
from the Weekly Sum-
The Waste Of Hay.

time in the dead-ripe and perishlng
grass crops which disfgure fields that
should have been mown full two weeks
ago. That men should have valua'
be crop grow to perfection, and then
waste away between rain and sunshine
and blasting winds, from sheer neglect
of simple matter of business-the
being ready for piece of work in due
timc-would be incredible if we did not
see it again and again, and year after
wear, among men who expect to be re-
co"niZed as farmers. From the very
beginning of the year it has been per-
fectly understood that by certain day
this business of havmaking should he
begun, and done in the least practical
bic time, vet the day comes to many to
find them in the midst OF other work,
and with no preparation for its own
proper duties, the haymaking. Is it
any wonder we have the question put
50 often: Does farming pay? Does
anything pay which is so grossly mis-
managed? One of the best farmers we
have known was asked when he
thought his wheat would Us l,tl.. t..
be cut, 81 cant say certainly" he re-
p!jci but | know ] shall he ready to
cut it next Monday week" and he
looked as if he expected it to he ready
when he was There was no drag in
bis work.
There is one thing that all Americans
have vet 10 learn; it is that even the
best managers defer their hay making
too long We have very little doubt
that at least week in advance of the
usual time might he taken with great
advantage to the quality OF the hay, rs
well as in the character Of the weather
for making it. Our clover, under what
is considered good treatment, is allowed
TO stand till the stems become woody,
and much damage caused by falling and
roofing of the under leaves that make
the black dust OF the hay. The orchard
grass, instead of being cut when the
stems are succulent with sugary juice,
stands to harden into slender sticks.
And timothy, when a large crop is on
hand, is left 80 late that the last saved
loses weight and seed and quality before
il i cut
\ writer in the CcHhy Gentlemen
saws The English, as general thing,
commence cutting grass in the first
week of June, but on good forward
meadows commence the latter part OF
Nav. aud generally finish about the
middle OF July THE Americans
he SAYS, "let their grass stay altogether
too long before they cut it, as it is hay
long before You think of cutting it; and
the seasons in America are SO short and
forcing that the neglect to cut The grass
when it ought to be done, and the hot
sun which forces the grain to maturity
80 much quicker than in England,
causes them both to come on at the
same time.
with regard TO the quality of tic
hay, the English is decidedly the best,
Tor it is cut so much greener and has a
stcadier sun on it, taking three or four
DAYS to cure, and they take 50 much
pains with it that when it is ready for
the barn or stack it is just as green in
color as when it was cut. The climate
in England is better for making good
hay than America, for they have in
general splendid clear weather and
steady sun, which is. better than harsh
burning one for hay and the only
cause can see why the Americans do
not cut their grass before the sap is
dried up is that labor is high, and it
would take so much longer to make
that it would not pay them, and so
would rather have it harvested the
quickest and cheapest way, according
to their ideas
The remedy for the bad management
involved in our hay harvesting must
begin early in the season. Without it
we may resolve to do better only TO
find ourselves in the future, as in the
past, involved in other work that
is more urgent than hay cutting,
which can conveniently wait awhile.
The first necessity that will be forced
upon It's will be fall blowing for our
principal spring crops. The work OF
spring has, of late years, been so much
interrupted 10y long continued rains a.
to make this change desirable, apart
from the consideration of the hay crop.
With the sod ground broken in fall,
spring work becomes comparatively
light. The preparation Of the corn
ground may be made so carly that the
crop NAV be planted at the earliest
time the weather allows, and be half
worked by the first Of June. With this
advantage gained, and others which
may be had with a little forethought,
we put ourselves in position to do the
best that can lie asked for the crop of
hay. which Is becoming continually OF
more Importance, and commands our
best services.
Pertinent to this matter Of putting
forward the hay harvest as 1t is indeed
to every work of the farm, is the sup
plv of suitable labor when it may hc
wanted. Much failure in. doing work
well and in due time result from ina
Lility or reluctance TO get labor enough.
We are sure that great evil arises from
this as well as particular crops as to
the general operation OF the farm; The
disposition is general TO DO with the
least possible amount OF labor, and the
consequence is overwork, or failure TO
do what should be done. Good farm
inc demands rather a superabnndancc
than deficiency, and the good farmer
is he who knows well how to make the
most profitable Use OF the labor he cm,
ploys. il his supply OF help be at all
times abundant he will keep
we'll up with the times with
his work, and nothing Will
suffer from delay lie may, In antic'-
patton of his harvest work, have more
than sufficient laborers for month or
. I 1 L 4,