The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-22
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Cutting the Grass.

W. A. Armstrong, editor of the H,ts-
bandman and secretary of the New York
State Grange, opened the discussion be-
fore the Elmira farmers club, by re-
ferring to statement made by q member
at previous meeting that the principal
reason of our light grass in these latter
years is in the practice of close moving
by machines, which he believed was cor
rect. We cut our'grass at a season when
the sun is pouring upon the meadows
his fiercest heat. We remove the
natural protection, exposing the bulbous
roots of the timothy to burning heat,
whereby they are injured their vitality
weakened if life is not destroyed. Some
times there is complete destruction,
without doubt A few years ago we
had no complaint about meadows "run-
ming out" Now there is general uneasi.
ness about the grass supply, for good
meadows are exceptions and there is
great difficulty everywhere in establish
ing permanent grass. AS a reason for
charging this to close moving it may be
stated that there are many rough
meadows in our acquaintance which have
been cut only by the scythe, and the
sod remains firm and the crops good.
This may not be conclusive against the
close cutting, for it may be said that
such pieces are generally newer, and
that they have not abstracted the ele-
ments of growth; but it tends to estab-
lish the theory that our moving ma
chimes have caused our distress in this
matter. 1t is hoped that farmers will
raise their cutter-bars through the APP
preaching hnying, that we may see if
beneficial results will follow. There will
be but little loss if the stubble be left as
long as by hand-mowing, giving protec-
tion to the roots. Certainly there is
somewhere cause for the deterioration
of our meadows, and if it should prove
to exist in too close cutting, we want
the fact known.
Curing Sowcd Corn.
Let the crop grow until it begins to
ripen. This is particular point in the
curing of this crop, for when the lower
leaves begin to turn yellow, it is q sign
that the saccharine matter is being con
verted into sugar, and that there is less
water to dry out than at any time pre-
vious to this, consequently the crop is
more valuable than when cut sooner.
The ground having been rolled smooth,
can cut the crop with my reaper close
to the ground. l then let it lie in the
sun two or three days, then rake with
horserake and cock up, and allow it to
cure for four or five days, when it can be
hauled to where 1 wish to feed it. 1
usually put it in small stacks, and have
but little more trouble with it than l do
with timothy hay.
Fight the Insects.
From many quarters we learn of fear
full ravages of insects. The canker-worm
is ravaging orchards and defoliating the
elms, poplars, bass and birch trees.
In some sections, acres and acres
of forest growth is looking as though it
had been visited by fire which had TAX
en- every leaf from the trees. The true
tent caterpillar is working sad havoc in
many orchards, although they are not so
numerous as in some years previous.
The currant worm has also appeared in
countless numbers, threatening the de-
struction of this useful fruit.-Maine
Farmer.