The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-07-10
Farm, Garden, and Household.
The sfay Gro o.

oi IillS crop ANA It's great Importance to
me individual farmer and its immense value
70 tle country at large iustihes and, in
deed, requires a great deal of attention.
Any man who viii suggest Il practical
method for improving the quality OF the
nay crop or increasing It's quantity, or who
VIII point out a quicker or easier method of
curing ana storing it, is a benetactOr to the
puhhC ut large. He may get little thanks
tor his trouble, but he does valuable work.
Even the man who does nothing but call
the attention of the farming community to
the immense Importance of this crop is a
valuable public servant. For, strange as it
may seem, this crop is not appreciated or
is value realized even by its producers
This crop, which ranks first in value with
an cultivated crops in this country, is not
well managed by half its producers ON a
great many, probably the great majority of
lh'ihS, no special attention is paid to the
nay crop. W hat grows is harvested. But
.'ttle work Il done and little expense in
G urred to Increase the quantity or value of
he crop. With corn, wheat tobacco and
IN Iact almost all other crops, great pains
Il f' taken. and time, skin, money and ferti-
NAers are freely employed. But grass
q rows very much AS it happens to- Other
q rop~ cannot be raised without toll and
expense, but grass will grow almost any
where. Nt this fact our farmers have taken
advantage and bestowed their toll on other
crops, While relying upon the bountes of
natult to furnish bay But while this has
hteh lhe rule there have been exceptions
lArro are farmers who treat the hay crop
aS it deserves. They recognise its impor-
lance and act with reference to its great
value And their success should incite
others TO follow i'll their steps. They have
made 1t far more profitable than any other
nj 40,
pu natural grass farms large sums of money
can be annually cleared. Aud by proper
cultivation good results can be obtained on
itnd not specially adapted To the production
pl lli7 crop. For there are SO many vari-
c'ie' ~ grass which make good hay that the
intelligent farmer can adapt his crop to
jhe land instead Of doing, az is necessary
MIjh most other crops, great deal OF
Wofk To adapt his l4nd To the crop For
Instance. II farmer has wet land which is
liable to hcave aud Which ia. on that ac-
OduUt. MOI suitable Tor upland grasses, he
can ~red it with Alsihe clover and obtain a
large quantity of irst-rate hay. But the
ease With which crop can be started is
not jhr pniy thing in favor OF cultivlting
>rdS-. After il l. once started it requires
Hli'r W"FE to axe care of it until time OF
cutting. tom- potatoes, tobacco and other
hOed crops require a great deal more work
I'i'ii I.ti, go ,V'i, an" thtll Ihey must DE
Ji'''' .'.''N 'l' 'nl"uSh Iir season Inc
'""'~' '"'' nus 'H Pp performed every
Fe',' nie WIN grass uhlS Work, once done
"r"' VIII NOT hrFu repeating lor several
H' t"'tllS dhu storing can also,
bN the use OF proper machinery, he quickly
md ehtaply done. Another point in favor
Of th.9 crop Ii is not eNhansting to the
land Ihr same amount of manure which
- used lOr one acre of tobacco and pro
"uCe9 'nIF one crop ltof tobacco must be
ii"l'" every year VIII 90 over ionr acres
- S'ANa Iahd produce Two large crops per
1'"' ''i wv" SeatH7 i' one lalr crop each
N'ai l"i 9"hlr years longer. VI course it
N "Fttei 4" manure @raH' l|hd each year,
II" ny H''H9 y ai2ef crops can he obtained
H." .'n II u 'hf laild +" only sparlngiy
iN'iui co. ""l "eaNH fhahufln& IS not
~ IA pl'e ''iltlNaIl"u Oil inns crop.
n' 'H'iS more III one way or another,
t"I9 crop can AlWaFS ma market. Corn
may "e uui ana prices low, potatoes may be
TX !" 'h' l'lafhtl' rye ahd oats com
l,,''it ""'N hoth'haI pflte-ho sales being
"V'''" '' any AStifeN Jht trade In tobacco
we" "iDl'uN i'iF oi resurrection, but
n",S''' '"t Ntlh3h7 OF want OF demand
'''i'7' iL'S mut lt NHId on else
''' 'r"' 1Il ~ can pr SpId
- IHi' P'''r i"' fish- non the price
U row II i~ "l'rh much more profitable to
Irt'' II OUT 10 cattle than TO sell it. The
increased vaIur OF the cattle will often pay
'of Tie nay, ami the manure, at present
prices VIII ne worth large sum either to
'rl' or Us" "n the farm. Having thus dwelt
'' some 'uHlH "h IA" Importance and Valu4
|l 'u' crop, ihT case with which it is pro-
''u''" ana lhe readiness with which it can
Wy ''''" we ONE now 10 the Two practical
"'.l'"nS concerning inns crop winch almost
'NTlN IaItHer must ilrel ana answer, The
"l9I ~ '"'Af IuFstl"hS iS now much hay
'n",i ne PT"lU'Fd, thr second ~ shall its
I"1'l'E "N ""od or poor 1t IS in his power
j" "htaih, ny careful cultivation, 4 large
'roP from ms land, or h" can so manage his
arm lhal ne VIII have little hay or anything
Else. Bul me crop so valuable both to the
single farmer and the country at large
IofhIshh% as 1t does lie means of keeping
nnitltudeN ot cattle which supply our peo-
~" with beef. and the cows which enable
"S to not onlY supply onr home demand but
ais" I" send vast quantities of butter and
rhreSe 10 ior"l%n markets, we hope that