Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-07-13

Cutting and Curing Hay.

~ late meeting of the Union Farmers
Club. OF Ienox. Madison Co, New York.
the suhjec; OF Is. Cutting and Curing Pod
der" was considered. From the report Of
the discussion. we make the followin. ex-
tracts
Mr.. Ralph II. Avery recommended that
clover. especially the small. be cut
when about half the blossoms have APP
pcared. hut not when wet or when the dew
i On the grass. When cut and little wilt
Ell. | put II 10 small cocks with q fork. and
there let II remain several say two or
three-davs. and then turn the cocks over.
and stand day or two longer. II there
has occurred shower OF rain In the time.
the cocks being small. 1t will dry out.
Clover cured in this WAY retains all the
leaves ana favor. and will he relished hv
any kind OF stock. When fed To winter 10
cows they will give nearly a. much milk a
when al grass. aud II Keep, 10 a warm sta
bic, a. they should be. FOR calves. colt.
sheep or horses, IL j. a most excellent fod-
der Ny rule for cutting timothy is when.
and lust when, the first blossom has fall
len and before any appearance of seed.
Then cut amer the dew j. OF and grass dry.
Cock up when well wilted-noi cured 10
drynes>-Open thu same an hour or 20 In
the sun the mex day, and then 4 aw in the
barn. the barn TO be a snug one with ven
tiation only through the roof. Keeping
barn doors always closed. except when
obliged TO be open while drawing In the
hay. II hay has no water in IL. except the
juices IN the grass when cut. and is well
wiited, and has had chance TO sweat in
the cock. ana IL placed In a snug barn |
have no fear of II being burnt In the NOW
49,.
and stored as stated, ! am always sure Of
having hay that my stock like: nv cattle
keep in 3 fine co diiion, hair bright and
lively. In addition. believe a timothy
meadow cut thus early. viii re- ain a thick
er sod and improve. whereas by not cutting
the grass until the seed i ripe, on some
land the meadow viii run out. and the sow
er be obliged 70 plOw and re-Secd but by
following the system Of moving thus early,
and an occasional top-dressing Of manure
meadow will improve and be better from
year 10 year. Medicinal herbs, when cured
20 as TO retain their aroma and virtue as
herbs. are always gathered when in flower.
and are never dried in the sun. SO grasses
should be cut when in flower, and cured so
A. to retain that fine color and flavor which
every intelligent farmer likes as we'll As his
stock docs Any farmer who follows tins
practice and notices the result. will never
again wait for grass TO ripen the seed be-
fore cutting. a. i too often the practice
General Bruce thought early Gu, Grass
the best, and in curing it the $ sunshine
and the more sir on il. the better, and that
il should be cured before going into the
harm. In regard TO Young grass he gave it
a his opinion that cows liked it the best
and that II brought more mix
The discussion having closed, the que>-
lion Of early. medium, or late cutting OF
grass. SC. wa put 10 a vote. when the
question was decided in favor Of early cut
ting by a large majority, a lew being in IA
vOr of medium. while none were ii favor
of late.
At a meeting Of the Guilford (Chenango
Co.. y. y Farmers Club, June 10, the
same subject was discussed.
Mr.. Vim. Jewell stated that in the alb
sence Of his personal attention in the Sc
curing OF his last hay crop he had suffered
largely. and his stock still worse, and that
in the future this must be attended to If
much else i neglected. and asked what the
amount would be in Guilford if the hay
crop suffered in value three or four dollar.
per ton, il being cut too late or improperly
secured? HI says il must be cut early
Mr.. Edward Jewell said he wanted his
hay 10 be put in early. and in manner
that il woul heat and press together firm
~ without any water upon ii, or but little
sun. and then close the barn, and exclude
the air as much a. possible. In this the
Chair agreed with him.
Mr.. II. A. BuTlison also agreed that il
must be cut early. but would like all cock
ed one night in the field before putting in
the barn. He also urged the u>e OF the
hay tedder, and thought its use added ma
terialiy To- the worth OF every ton of hay,
a it, drying was more equal and more
dried by he air than by long continued
rays o. the sun.-no one disagreeing with
him in this respect. All spoke highly of
the tedder who had used il.
Mes>r>. More and Root thought il a
good time to cut grass in the afternoon
that il might be secured earlier the next
day. as there would then be no dew on
the grass or under OF the ground, and if
it rained the next day il would not be
hsyed To hurt it. and many times escape
showers thereby.