The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-03-25

just as soon rs the crop is removed. The
manure theu is beneficial in two ways
by shading the grass roots, aud as fer
tilizer. II should be pushed down fine
and made to lie close to the surface, so
that the next crop which should immedi-
ately spring up, may cover it and keep
it moist aud in condition to be easily dis
solved by the dews aud showers Light
dressings applied at this season often
make all the difference between good
crop of rowen aud no crop at all. If
top-dreSsing is pracliced at all it should
be commenced while the grass is yet Wig
orous, and before its place is taken by
wild aud inferior kinds, Top-dress only
good grass; re-seed old fields that are
run out.
CUTTING AND CURING.
1t hardly seems necessary at this late
day to urge cutting hay early, as it is
now pretty generally admitted that it
should be cut as soon as it comes into full
blossom The main difficulty seems to be
in getting our hay cut as early rs we
know it should be. Too many of us have
a little more hoeing to do, Or we can't
get ready before next Monday, aud when
Monday comes it brings storm of sever
al days, and SO our hay becomes over
ripe, The more we make dairyiDg a
specially, the more likely we shall be to
begin our hsying in season, My rule for
curing hay is not much more definite
than my rule for sowing grass seed. In
fair weather dry hay all think it needs
drying, but when the weather is catching
or uncertain, | often prefer to cure IL "A
little imperfeCtly in the NOV, to leaving
it out to spoil in the field. Hay may
be perfectly cured in the NOW when
housed in much greener state than was
formerly supposed possible.
When my grass is ripe enough to cut |
hurry it along as fast as possible, keep
ing as much cut down in all weather as |
can take care of; for when grss is past
blossoming contend that it may depre-
ciste as fast standing, in fair weather, as
cut, in bad weather. 1t is sure to grow
poorer in either case by every days de-
lay, and | prefer to take the risk from
cutting rather than from letting it stand &.
So rapidly does grass depreciate in quail
ily, after it is fully in bloom, that | would
cut it Just before three days storm
rather than let it stand uncut. Good
moist, natural grass land, not too wet,
when once well seeded with desirable
varieties Of grass, should be kept up to a
high state of fertility aud productiyeness
by annual or biennial applications OF
some kind of fertilizers in the form Of
top-dressngs. This course saves the cost
OF pl0ughing, the expense of seed, which
is 10 small item, aud the risk of getting
another good sward.
PREPARATION or THE SOIL.
We must, by thorough cultivation, in d
few weeks time, do what nature does in
one or more years, that is, we must make
a deep, fine, mellow seed bed and mingle
the fertilizers very thoroughly through
the soil aud have them in such con
dillon that the young grass can obtain
from them immediate benefit
The first requisite TO this end is good
pIoughiug, for, unless this is thoroughly
done, all the after cultivation will be i'm
perfect and the success but partial
use swivel ploughs wholly, that /
may EsVe the iewest possible number Of
fret and last frrows, which can never
be turned quite as well AS the Others.
The depth Of the fnrrows must be such
tha, good seed bed may be made ou
the inverted side without danger Of turn
ing them back. The deeper and wider
the furrows, the more likely they are to
remain grass side down during the sub.
sequent cultivation.
The fret implement that follows the
plough 10 harrow with teeth or cutters
so shaped that they will cut, skiye and
puIverize the soil without catching aud
turning back tie furrows, like he spike
tooth harrow. or cnmmou cultivaior- in
general nee.
There srr several Kinds of harrows that
will ru'vsrize The soil perfectly, without
tearing up the tart, and they sfe absolute
ly Indispensable for preparing newb
turned ssard !and for seeding. After q
Geld has been worked over several iiu
with the Shares " similar harrlv 5
hsye sometimes found il advisable iu 2,
over it with common culiivstar. 10
lo0.c, ibe 80 little deeper sud 60
more thoroughly mix the manu-e wifh
. the soil hsu could with ihe .hstr'.
hafroE. Bul unless tie fret pl8Bgblug
uas desp aHd perfectly well done. the
euuiyaiur .bos.d not be used. To secure
the best resuiis from fall seeding, ghe
graaud should be planghed immediately
sfer tie hay crop is removed, tbSi lh,
turf mas have a. much lime a. possible
Tor folting, and The top soll have some
Tine 10 lie erDoted 10 jhe weather. be