Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-22
Hay-Making.

There is so great diversity Of opinion
ON the subject of hay making that il seems
singular that farmers should not mere
carefully study the questions connected
Herewith; and yet it is undoubtedly true
that not one farmer in ten can give the
reason why he cuts his hay just as the
last of it is going out of blossom, or cuts
II when nearly ripe; for there are those
who practice and stoutly maintain that
either of these plans is best.
The real facts in the case are, the or
ganic materials in the hay are not essen
tally different in quantity, cut in the two
seasons we have mentioned; but the di-
gestibility of the two products is very es-
sentially different Careful experiments
have shown that the early-cut hay is di-
gested and assimilated to the extent of
from 12 to 20 per cent. more than the late
hay, other things being equal.
Many city stablemen prefer hay cut
when tolerably ripe, from the fact that
they can better afford to feed grain than
hay, for the reason that it is generally
cheaper, and therefore feed only so much
hay as is necessary to divide the grain and
properly distend the stomachs of their
horses. When the hay is to be fed on the
farm, and especially when II is TO be fed
to cattle, there is no doubt that early-cut
grass is far more economical than that al
lowed to get nearlyripe before it is made
into hay.
One OF the great mistakes in hay-mak-
ing is, the grass is allowed to lie too long
after moving before il is cooked. 1t
should never be allowed to lie in the
swath over night, after becoming partially
dry, if it be possible to prevent; and es-
pecially should IL not take rain when in
this condition. Better rake into tumbles,
even if it have to IL spread somewhat again
before carting to the barn or the stack.
Very often, simply upsetting the heaps will
air it sufficiently. Indeed, when 1t is
allowed to stand some days, it will cure
perfectly in heaps; and, if it undergoes q
Slight heat in the meantime, ii is not
worse, but better for it.
As rule, hay cut before eleven O'Clock
in the morning, during hot, dry weather,
will, in the West, cure sufficiently for rak.
ing by two or three O'Clock p. M; and all
the hayscut in the morning may usually
be raked in the afternoon.
Hay cut after three p. m. will not dry
sufficiently 10 injure from the dew; and
hay may take rain for twenty-four hours
without much injury if it be not wilted
before the rain falls. Therefore, il the
season be a catching one, be not afraid to
cut hay down in cloudy, misty or rainy
weather, especially If you have tedder to
stir II with thereafter
In ordinary seasons, in the West, when
large fields ofhay are to be cut, it is usual
20 keep the mower going from morning to
night, raking as closely as it will do in
the afternoon; and starting the rake again
about eleven O'Clock a. M, if the day be
hot In this way very good hay may be
made--and very cheaply toby rakine
into windows; then, by passing the rake
along the windows, it is quickly thrown
into tumbles, which very little labor
viii cause TO shed rain fairly. In fine
weather no turning is necessary, since the
hay Is carried to the stack usually within
the next twenty-four hours, whence II
is quickly transferred with the horse-hay.
fork
The present season has been untoward
so far for hay-making. If the weather
continue bad-and there is strong prob
ability that II may do so--a careful study
Of the weather and the means AT hand will
alone enable the provident farmer 70 get
his hay together in good condition. The
best advice we can give I'm this instance
and the plan which we have followed sat
isfactorily, is to cut the grass in bad