The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-08
AAnaersolg Jntelligenter.
importance Of Hay as Farm Product.

rF~s'~V~ w.
Importance Of Hay IS a Farm Product
We invite the attention of our farming com
munity to the following sensible article from
the Monroe (Ga) Advertiser. In midsummer,
when grass is abundant, very few persons think
of the importance of an ample supply OF WIN
ter forage, and, consequently, neglect the time
honored iniunetion, "Make hay while the sun
Shines" There are two points of great lmpor-
tance connected with hay-makingy to which we
wish to direct attention. First. the grass
should be cut when green, while the seed are
In the dough state. Second, it must not be TOO
bong exposed to the sun and dew-especIally
erab-rrass. 1t requires very little sunshine TO
cure It. That which is cut in the morning may
be hauled up the same afternoon, ana oegn'
never to remain ont more than one night;
Much hay is ruined by being ent too iate' anu
still more By being left out too long,.
Editor Advertiser As the season ior saving
hay will soon be at hand, and approaching me
value of this crop, and knowing the scarcity
of stock feed in our section for several years
nast we would urge our agricultural friends
to give the subject that earnest and timely at
tenttion that its Importance demands. Ley
every farmer who owns horse, COW ana eau,
he determined to devote four or i've Gays OF
more to saving hay this present summer, no
matter how much it may conflict wltn tne coz
ton crop or other farm labor, as we are sasis-
fed that farm labor employed In any otner
way cannot be made more profitable or remu-
nerative than in saving hay at the proper time.
AS there are many ways in which an aoenoan1
supply of good hay may be secured, no iarmer'
however poor himself or his lands may oe'
should have an excuse for neglectng this crop.
,e iohl
who % have tried it, yielding from II to 2 tons
ner acre on ordinary land. It natures and IS
ready for moving in sixty days from seeding.
It should be sown broadcast at the rate OF one,
half of a bushel per acre, having the land well
broken and narrowed before sowing, and GOV.
cred by harrow or heavy brush run over it. 1t
NAV be sown as late as the LIST of July, but We
think it does better sown in May. 1t is our
opinion that it will come into general use and
take the place, to large extent, OF the oat
crop. and become to the Georgia farmer what
clover is to Tennessee and Kentucky. :,
Our Georgia crab grass makes an excellent
hay and we think fully equal to the mucn val
ued clover and timothy of higher latituoes
when cut at the right stage and properly cured.
The best method for obtaining crop OF TINS
grass is to take the plows into the wheat o! oae
fields after the stock have got the gleanlngs,
acre to the horse, (which will take the plow
team but one day from the regular CROP or II
It be desirable to pasture the wheat or oat field
for the summer, any lands at rest and in cultl-
walton last year, if not too much exhausted,
will bring crab grass after good breaking. i.
In 1871 we tested the comparative value OF
a wheat and hay crop upon the same land.
After taking off the wheat we treated the stub
BILE as above mentioned, had the grass moved
in September, making II tons per acre OF line
hay, worth $1,000, against ten bushels of wheat,
Sl7.50, with cost of $3.50 per acre more than
the hay.
Upon many of the farms of our county there
are branches and creek bottoms that afford an
abundant supply of swamp grass that may be
cut and fed in green state, as well as cured
into hay later in the season. All such Lands
are valuable even if not drained and cultiva-
ted. for the abundant supply of grass they at.
ford. They should be cleared of all brush and
timber. we'll drained, and if not desirable for
cultivated crops they can be made the most
profitable lands on the farm by raising grass
alone. The writer has taken off and cured
three tons of swamp grass per acre, worth at
least so cents per hundred pounds, and estima-
ting the cost of labor and comparing it with
other farm products from the cultivated crops,
we were forced to admit that the former yield
ed the largest per cent of clear profit. Herds
grass is we'll adapted to our swamp lands,
grows here to perfection, and equally valuable
for grazing or making hay. Every farmer who
has bottom lands should procure seed of this
grass thoroughly prepare the land by breaking
and narrowing, sow half bushel seed per acre
in March or April, and we venture the opin-
ion that he can realize $4,000 per acre annual
" without any labor except that of moving
and housing the hay.
If it ia not practicable or desirable to pro-
cure hay from the native or cultured grasses,
let peas be sown this month to be cut green
and we'll cured for stock feed during the win.
ter. The farmer who depends upon corn, fod-
der, shucks, or even a good oat crop for his
stock food during the year is neglecting better
and cheaper methods, and will not appreciate
their economical value until he tries the expe-
riment. 1t is the opinion of Northern men
who have famed in both sections that the
South possesses superior advantages over the
North in the product of hay, and more hay of
better quality can be raised here than at the
North. We must begin agricultural reforms
as conditions precedent to anything like per-
manent prosperity in our section. We must
give less area if not attention to cotton, and
raise more food for man and beast Our work
animals and stock generally can be kept in
better condition and at nearly one-haif the ex-
pense by having al ample supply of good bay
that costs but trihe to secure it. Let our far
mers, during the present summer, be deter.
mined to snake hay while the sun shines" !"
and we doubt not, if the motto is reduced to
practice, there will be more sunshine about the
heart in looking upon an improved condition
of his stock during the winter, and in not ex-
periencing the modification of buying western
corn and hay at exorbitant prices during the
spring. ~
How THEY BURIED THE HATcHET-The
day following our centennial festivities the fol-
lowing incident occurred in South End sal
oon: A friend had invited one of the South
Carolina soldiers into the saloon to put anoth-
er turf on the buried hatchet. While stand