Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-21
A Short Crop of Hay.

Is short crop OF hay IN the Northern states.
The very early and widespread drouth has
resulted in more general injury to the grass
crop than has been often, if ever before, ex.
perionced. In former years the dry weather
has been very severe in sections, but fail to
remember Of hearing or reading Of a season
when it was so extensive and severe. or
course this has caused large decrease in the
crop Of hay, and made il necessary for farm.
ers TO economist fodder as much as possible.
Ii is true there is considerable old hay in the
country but hundreds Of accounts from near
ly as many sections, show that with all the
old and new hay, and every other means be.
sides, there will be much difficulty in winter
ing the stock. For these and other reasons
that might be given, it will be necessary to
take more than usual
CARE OF STRAW.
The general growth Of straw is also much
less than usual perhaps there is very little,
if any, more than half the bulk that was
harvested last year, when we had wet grow.
ing season. So there are two reasons for
taking more than usual care Of straw there
is small supply, while, in consequence of
the short ropof hay, more than usual is need
ed. So that, in most cases, to have all that
can be fed to advantage, and enough for bed
ding in the stables and pens, il will be neces-
sary to see that none is wasted.
The care Of straw comes usually in very
hurrying time, and is often neglected At
this season of the year, when other work is
driving, and there is no present need Of straw,
this portion Of the crop is, in many cases,
not properly secured But this need not be
the case if proper precautions are taken be.
forehand. In making preparations for the
care Of straw, the first point should be to
make arrangement to put as much as possible
in the barns. In doing this, much depends
on little forethougbt With the mows and
different kinds Of grain conveniently arrang-
cd, the farmer may thresh out one NOW or
other place of storage, putting the straw in
stack, and thus make room for the straw from
the next; and thus keep returning the straw TO
the last place threshed out, and nearly filled
again with straw. AT the same time care will
be taken to keep the best straw in the barn,
and only put such portions out doors as are
Of least value TO feed.
The second point in the care of straw, is
to see that all that is put out doors is well
stacked. If well put up it will nearly all be
saved in good condition to use-only por-
ton Of the outside and bottom will be unfit
for feed, and that, if dried, will do for bed
ding; while if badly stacked so early in the
season, it may be nearly all lost for any pur-
pose but to rot down for manure. Hence it
is very important to secure skillful, reliable
stacker, and see that he has sufficient help to
be able to do the work well.
The third point in the care Of straw, is to
see that there is no waste Of straw or chaf in
stacking When threshing with the large
separators, where the straw carrier takes both
the straw and chaf on to the stack there is
usually good deal scattered under the car.
rer, that is generally spread over the yard.
Where large portion of the straw is irod-
den down in the yard for manure, there is not
so much loss in this but in seasons like the
present, when all is needed for feeding or
bedding, it is important to have it saved. If
properly secured and fed in the winter, as
change with other fodder, ii can be used to
good advantages being a mixture Of fine
straw and chaf, il is much better than the
bulk Of the straw; hence it is well to have
these scatterings saved. This portion of the
work more properly belongs to the man who
has charge of the separator who, having lit
tie to do, can attend to it as well as not I;
with good barley fork he may easily put
these scatterings on the straw carrier, and
thus keep the floor and yard under the car
rier well cleaned up, and all on the stack
where it properly belongs. But if this is not
done If, as is often the case, large amount
collects under the carrier and about the stack
then the first work after the machine is out
Of the way, should be to secure these scatter.
ings Ii put back in the barn, and fodder is
short next winter, they may save some money
The cheapest fodder the writer ever bought
was lot Of this description, the scattering
Of two days threshing Of wheat, which, al
though paying what it was considered worth
for manure, probably saved ten dollars il
buying other fodder for every dollar paid.
SAVING CORN FODDER.
To save corn fodder to the best advantage
the corn should be cut up at the ground al
soon as the ears are glazed, and set in moder
ate sized stooks-large enough to stand well
and not so large but that the corn will riper
up and cure we'll. To make the stocks stan(
WELL some care must be taken to set the corr
in rather small handiulls, all around alike, 81
the stock may be well balanced If set il
ioiBc atuiuilp, ~ IN fcry cOmHun W Bct Ou
side heavier than the other, which is yer,
likely to crowd the stock over. 1t is ais
very important TO husk the corn and secur
the fodder as soon as both are well cured
and before the late fall storms have mucl
chance to damage either. The SHOWS Of No
vember are very injurious to corn fodder, AM
especially SO when they come with high wind
that drive the snow all through the Stocks
A very good way to keep corn fodder, is il
rather small stacks, well put up and secures
against high winds and storms. Except il
very dry seasons, cornstalks that make
heavy growth seldom get dry enough to stow
away in large mows, but good deal may b
put on scafiolds and other places where it j
surrounded with air.
Corn fodder, if thus cut saved and takel
care Of will come out bright, green and sweet
in the winter, and will be freely consumed b,
nearly all kinds of stock. 1t will then b
found one Of the cheapest and best substitute
for hay that is available in American farming
Hence, the present large crop of corn fodder
If thus managed and saved, will 90 far h
make up the deficiency in the hay crop, AM
be worth millions to the farmers Of the Unite,
States. The corn will also be more than usu
ally abundant, and be fed, as needed, with tn
different kinds Of fodder, to keep stock in
good thriving conditional, Country Gent.
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