Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-22
agricultural,
This Department is conducted by
lon. !. w. COlbnrn and Hon. John Gregory.
Early Made Hay.

Early Made Hay.
As the season for securing the hay crop
again draws near the subject Of carly cut hay
is being more thoroughly discussed by the
agricultural papers than ever before. There
seems to be no doubt in the minds Of those
that have thoroughly tested it, that a great
value is added to this important crop by Sc
curing IL earlier than has heretofore been the
general practice As soon as the grasses are
fairly in the blossom, seems to be the favor
ito time with many farmers to commence the
cutting, and experiment has proved that what
is lost in bulk in this carly taking of is
more than made up in quality. Instead Of
the hard dry, woody fibre with which the la
ter cut grasses Gill your hay-mows, you have
for your stock the tender, sweet hay, with all
the Juices concentrated and preserved, so es-
scntial especially for sheep and young stock,
and absolutely indispensable for COWS giving
milk.
A writer in a late number Of the Country
Gentleman says:
sThere is a damage Of many millions every
year by cutting grass in the way we do. 1t is
a 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 educated2
We believe 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 is looked up to. Why then do
we not adopt their opinion, their practice, in
this one respect2 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"
We quote further from the same article,
and urge upon our farmers its careful con-
sideration, for we believe it to be practically
important, the little experience we have had
in the matter fully corresponding with the
views it contains
IA 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 dew does not hurt this. The only adyant-
age 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; 1t can be Sc
cured with fair weather, however green and
early it may have been cut, and however
stout it may have stood, if it be the carly or
june clover. Should rain set IN and last n
day or two, it will not hurt the green hay cut
in the evening when the dew was molstenng
it, though we prefer to cut in the morning
and gather the same day if possible. Much
close, constant work will do it, and this is re-
ouired. There is but one harvest, and this
a short one, and it should be much shorter.
We therefore should work, especially when
so much is at stake.
But there is less hay it may be said. Yes,
but there are now two crops, and these far
outweigh the one usually cut, besides being
50 much better 1t is in the quality where
the great gain is though the quantity is con
siderably in excess over the one crop aud the
second crop is harvested often sooner than the
one by the negligent farmer. There will be
a good aftermath following the second crop
better often than after the one dead
cutting
Our farmers need heart. They are afraid
Let them test this matter, and do it carefully.
Let them get out of their tracks and erer
themselvos-do the very best they can by
getting all the information they can from the
best sources. If they have successful
neighbor, no more is needed. They need but
be deprived Of prejudice, if they have that,
which is but too apt to be the case.
Now the gain in this green hay is immense.
IL is grass improved. When we soil our cat
tie. we do not throw before them wet or green
grass; we let it wilt first, or partly dry
Why2 Because it is found best. This Is
the common testimony. The reason is, it is
more concentrated So COW will get the
bloat when turned into deep lush pasture.
This is only the case when there is much
water ia the feed, when it is quite tender and
young
TO feed early cut hay then is to soil our
cattle in winter. Here the excrements are
the summer excrements. The coat OF the
animal is smooth, and the hide mobile. There
is bright eye. There is a summers breath
strong, full and sweet. Have you ever no.
ticed It We dare say no, so rare is the ease
of early cut hay well-cured grass
All these signs present, what will prevent
the mix from corresponding ~ N"N' WI
respond exactly. You have not the milk
and butter from October grass which are ex-
cellent before the frost touches them, but
you have better milk and butter you have
the june grass you have june butter. 1t
is yellow and waxy, and fragrant, and havor-
cd, and abundant. This is experience this
will never fail. Keep your first cut for your
fall and spring milking this will give you
the tenderness of the June product, and you
do not need to lay up buttor in june for the
year round. Indeed you do not get the
first rank grass taste perhaps you do not
want it.
Then such hay contains more available mat
ter for feeding. There may be more sub
stance, chemically, in mature hay, but it is
not seen in the stock when fed, much less in
the butter and milk, the milk retaining the
soft creamy froth of summer. Why do we
miss all this good We arc now speaking
from experience, what we have seen, what we
see yearly. We therefore urge this matter J;
we therefore have urged it from year to year;
and we shall continue to urge, for not only
for cattle is such hay priced, but equally or
nearly so for all kinds Of stock.
Early Peas.