The Ottawa free trader., 1873-10-11
How Shall We Winter Our Stock"

The hay crop throughout this season as
also elsewhere is light, As the old crop is
well cleared out, prices will undoubtedly run
! high. What is more, the hay crop just har
vested suffers materially in quality The old
growth in it is ripe and dead, and worth lit
lie more than straw, The new growth is
quite tender and suffering some in the curing
With the continuation of the present rapid
growth of meadows cut early, there will be q
good, or at least fair, second crop. This
should receive all the attention possible
as this will be superior growth in point Of
quality, aftermath Tor second crop having
more nutrimcnt than the first cutting; and
us there is no dead hay in it, it should be
harvested, il possible, in the best manner
Here is the farmers advantage. lie has an
other advantage, the coarse fodder now grow
i ing. BY cutting grain early, the stocks gel
green and the berry just in the dough, tied
in small, rather loose bundles, and put III
stocks, capped by a sheat, not too snug, let
II ting the ali circulate through somewhat, by
taking this course, an excellent feed can be
obtained. Such straw will be of Il pale green
color, and, if run through "A straw-cutter, will
be equal, at least, to ordinary good hay, and
we know those who prefer 1t to such hay
The grain the berry, also obtained in this
way will be better, both for seed and for 9th
er use OF still greater benefit is the corn
crop as to quality, we mean the stalks as
fodder. This also is dependentltor its value
upon the manner Of securing it, The true
way, practiced by our best farmers and dai
rymen here, is to cut when yet green, the ear
just glazed, and set in shocks. This, if the
fall Is favorable, will sufficiently dry it so as
to put in bulk somewhat loosely, or so as to
give some ventilation. Otherwise with a
moist fall, the stalks should be distributed
else fermentation will be sure to work mis-
chief. Distributed so, this should be the
principal feed at first. But when cured so as
to be kept with safety, corn-stalks may be fed
any time during the winter or in the spring
1t is the quality of fodder that gives 1t It's
value. Dead,ripe hay is of little worth 80
with straw, corn.stalks, etc. And to feed
largely Of grain to make up, as every reflect
ing farmer knows, is not the way to realize
the greatest profits. In general 1t is accom-
panied by loss. 1t is clear that we are to see
that the cheapest feed, hay, straw and corn
stalks, be secured in a manner to realize the
greatest benefit, which is i'll securing 1t when
the largest amount of nutriment is IN 1t and
available and that is when secured IN green
state, cured and harvested without harm. 1t
has been sufficiently shown by the reports OF
the farmers clubs, agricultural Journals, etc,
that hay cut early and well cured Will carry
stock through the winter without grain. We
know that clover hay alone will do this, and
do it well. Some prefer timothy or other hay
mixed with it. BY securing straw and corn.
stalks, as above mentioned, but little meal
need be fed IN addition. Corn meal can now
b. obtained cheap, so that there is no excuse
for keeping our stock extensively. Not a
few farmers in this section are saving, in good
condition, their coarse fodder, and selling
their hay. This has been so for several years,
and the number that practice ii is enlarging.
The land is not suffering by being thus de
nuded," as the aftergrowth is permitted to re-
main, thus forming pabulum and protection,
and as nearly all the growth comes from the
atmosphere, it will be clear that there is no
loss, but gain, Hence the improvement of
the land which always accompanies dairying
or grazing. Still, there must be a limit to
selling hay; the price will do this when the
supply superseGes the demand-ttjc@ Her.
dld.