Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-06-22
agricultural.
Early Cut Hay.

ITS BENEFIT AND HOW TO SECURE 1T.
The following suggestions on this subjec
we cOndense from valuable article by ''F. c.
in the Country Gentleman of June 9th
They a subject which is attracting
considerable attention at present, and viii
pay well careful persual.
There is a damage of many millions every
year by cutting grass in the way we do. Il
is damage because we might save that
much. A few farmers harvest their hay ear
ly. Who are these farmers? are they our
poorest, our least educated? We believe il
will be admitted that they are found only at
the head of their profession, men whose
word will not he disputed, and whose opin-
ion vi be looked up to. Why, then, do we
not adopt their opinion and their practice in
this one respect? 1t is because we are 10
these ruts and can't well get out, or rather
we doo't want to old prejudices hold US.
Many. however, have the fear of spoiled
hay upon them. Some have tried the ex
pertinent and failed; failed because they did
not cure their hay properly. Either rain
damaged it for them, it spoiled in the
cock or the NOW. Besides, ''there was not
SO heavy crop" This is bad enough. 1t
is bad because it is bad practice. 1t is heed
less or ignorant practice.
Hay cut early, especially tender clover,
when all the leaflets in full spread, and
but few blossoms appear, when the whole
thing is tender, delicate mass, fit to pas
ture as yet, so far as the quality is concern
ed, when this mass is cut and dried as it is
often, left exposed to the sun without a sim
gle turning since the introdu elton of the
mower, the rich wealth of leaflets fall to the
ground, and this as the better part of the hay,
leaving the stems. and those undrled, to spoil
what few leaves remain.
Equally unfortunate is another practice,
that of putting up hay in the evening cut
the same day, that is, green, or early cut hay
when all lush and tender. The finer portion
may he dry, even the whole may not be far
from fit to go into the barn but raking and
taking it up, either into the barn or putting
on cock, will hurt if not spoil it for the
dew gathers when we are not aware, begin
ming as early as four FIVE O'Clock, accord
ing 10 sItua ion. it is insensible and there
fore deceitful. This dew, which is pure
water is the most harmful of all moisture
1t settles down upon and penetrates the hay.
and so it s,es to the barn this dew sroi-
1t. And yet people will work at their hay
gathering and hauling it in till darkness
arrests them, deeming little dew of no con-
sequence.
Annther bad plan is to cut grass early lin
the day. when the dew in on, and so leave it
V.
will remain green and moist till night, ex-
cept the part exposed t. 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 princi
pal keep this going all day till your hay is
cured remember ''cured,' - not necessarily
dried to the last extent, as is the case OF
some. What is wanted is to have the Juice
concentrated, (0f course the outside water
must be removed They will keep the hay
instead of spelling it. 1t is not desired to
have earl cut hay, when in the flush of pas
ture life, too dry it wants to retain some
thing OF the vir ue of it's maidenhOod. the
property of the grass and this the Juices
concentrated, not dried. will effect. There
is e fragrance even improved che pliabIe-
ness, tenderness, pretty much everything ar
it was before the AIR had carried off the mois-
ture-for with the use of the tedder the sun
has less effect, indeed but little, the warm
air pass ng readily through the loose mass
and hearIng off the water. The same is the
case in a warm cloudy diy when the air il
well stirring. The tedder used, hay may be
cut with the first glimpse of the sun, es-
pecially if the air is stirring By three
O'Clock of good hay day i will be cured
and the tedder CONSTANTLY at work) will
have done the most of it. Then the rake or
rakes, and the team or teams should hurry it
ln-into the NOV; that is better than to pur
on cock. Ii saves you much of the essence
of the hay, and retains the freshness also the
color to some extent. Then the labor is less.
the risk also, though with the heavy crop
there is little risk in the cock But into the
cock it must 90 if it is not sufficiently dried
The next day it may be finished off, that is
exposed to the air again, and then during the
day hauled in.
A good way, perhaps as good as 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 a start
What is cut in the evening is 30 much ready
In the morning for the tedder, and it can be
cured a little sooner in the day the next day
But there is less hay, it may be said. Yes
but there are now two crops, and these far
outweigh the one usually cot, besides being
SO much better. 1t is in the quality where
the reat gain is, tho the quantity is con-
siderably in excess of the one crop, and the
second crop is often cut sooner than the one
crop BY the negligent farmer. There will be
a good aftermath following the second crop.
o.ten better than after the one (dead) cutting
Inc gam IN this green hay Is immense. 1t
is grass improved. When we soil our cattle
we do not throw before them wet or green
grass; we let it wilt first or partly dry.
why! Because it is found 10 be best The
reason Is, 1T is more concentrated So COW
VIII get the blOat when turned into a deep
lush pasture. This is only the case when
there is much water in the feed, when it is
quite tender and young.
To feed early cut hay is to soil our cattle
In winter. The coat of the animal is smooth.
and the hide mobile. You do not have DC
tober butter, but you have what is better.
yellow and fragrant June butter, for you are
feeding June grass
Clover should be largely used, say two
thirds of the bulk of the crop, the rest timo-
thy, orchard grass or June grass, or you may
have other substitutes. Test little and do
1t honestly, and do not let it be exposed
to too much sun.