The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-07-30
AGRICULrURE.
Treating Meadows After Haying

Correspondence CultivatOr & Couutrygentema1.l
The hay harvest comes about two
weeks later with us than usual The tins
othy is DULY l4) being harvested. 1t Is
Tiust getting out of blossom, stands
up straight, is a thin crop, but of exs
ceIlent quality, The recent rains have
aided its finishing off The root Is
strengthened and in a condition for
starting the new crop. The weather is
| favorable for curing, and what there Is
| of the crop is being secured in the best
| condition, greencr than usual, and in eff
| feet earlier. This is well, as the crop is
| short; spending thus the better. Tim
| othy is an easy grass to cure, especially
when the stand is light as now. Cut IN
the afternoon, it may be taken IN the
following day. Ia the morning, as soon
as the dew is off, the tedder IS set going,
| and is kept repet ting the operation, thus
preventing the sun from over drying the
| l. ayes, and by alternating with sun and
| shade the hay shading itse f-the cur
ing is partially effected in the shade, air
dried, thus evapOratiDg less of the SUBJ
stance. This is done here; the hay
when sulicien ly cured IS rakei and
taken In; sometimes thrown into cocks
until the next day. The stalk in its
heavier part still retains some Of the
internal moisture, though reduced, and
will not spoil but rather better the hay
We are thus securing the finest timothy
crop ever gathered here, answering as
an excellent feed for all kinds of stock.
The crop secured thus, the roo5 ana
bulb ia good condition, with the aid Of
some rain the new crop will be forwards
ed, and the loss sustained in the spring
, -, 80 nj 4 -cn baU 81
for winter and the season following.
But this can be & eatly aided, and
should be wherever practicable, by a
dressing, if but slight, SO that it is even,
covering the whole. surface with manure,
fine and rotted--or some other fertilizer
Mere earth will do; best if a Hght~cOl
ored clay, mellow Of course. Wood ashes
(hard wood ashes preferred), if applied
plentifully, will make a good show OF
grass and give more or less peTmauency
to the growth, lasting for years. Hence
In meadows to be continued for some
length of time, it will pay to g to the
trouble of ge ting ashes, if they are to be
had. Plaster Is not of much advantage
to timothy, though little, where "a
meadow Is badly run down Nitrogenous
and phosphate fertilizers may b. Of the
greatest advantage, preventing ruin and
givingaI ew start But the general barn
yard manure. fine and Wei rotted, is, on
the whole, best; Is the most economical!
and reliable, having all the necessary
properties, being the mgr dents OF the
plant itsef.
A coat of manure thus given, the
lbs and the roots of the plants are pro
tected. This is highly important in a
droutb, 1t will gather moisture and pro-
] s. h hosrIas
adding nutrimeut. With a good cOndi-
ton of the root at the start, this appi,
cation will secure, with anything IKE
favorable weather, a fine thiokeniHg
growth. 1t is early CROUCH in the sea-
son to obtain an advanced growth, so as
to be a sure protection during the winter
if the ground has sufficient drainage
and the prospect of a crop next year
will be frst-class lfthe growth Is quite
large, it may be fed dow scme during
the early part of the fall, when the
ground is yet firm. In 20 case permit
stock to occupy it during or after long
rain. The trampling Is q severe hurt,
and W II be felt for years.
Had the season been eaTlIer, a crop oil
aftermath might have been taken of to
dvuntage-advantag in thickening the
sod and ,aas a feed Of superior Quality
for mich COWS and young stock; suih'
Gent time remaining to establish G
growth for winter protection, which 1t is
almost always fatal to neglect Never
fail to give land its own protection which
nature designed for it. The thing has
been tested it Is one of the important
elements in grass husbandiy. Meadow:
require this treatment, and pastures DC
less. We must prepare our pastures for
wiHter well as for summer-Open and
close with good growth, and never les
peeialIy In a drouth) feed close. Lei
there Away be a covering. for protec.
ton and reserved vigor. Protection Is
the word with our grass lands. Make II
motto, and Tigdly live up to it.
T. G.