Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-12
Cutting and Storing Hay.

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Agriculture of Massachusetts,, MIR. John
Johnson says they do not cut grass in
wet weather if avoidable. The plan of
gathering the hay into the barn on the
same day it is cut saves much anxiety
about wet weather, and he might have
said, saves much loss from damaged
hay. With all his hay safely stored at
nightfall, he is not much disturbed by a
sudden thunder storm; but imagine a
farmer with six or eight tons of half
cured hay in the field when night comes,
some in cock, some in winrow and some
spread. AS he retires he takes a lin
gering look athis hay, then at the west
ern sky, and with heart not the light
est or least anxious he goes to his rest.
He will be sure to hear the first roll of
distant thunder and the first patter of
rain. His feelings cannot be described.
Here is loss In cash and a loss in COM
fort.
I am convinced that in New England
hay should be cut before the seed has
set; commencing as soon as the dew is
off. At eleven o'clock begin turning
with forks or the tedder; lose no time
until noon, when by this process it will
have become wilted. Then as soon as
one o'clock we may begin to cart into
the barn, always taking care to have
help enough to finish carting as early
as half past four O'Clock, after which
the drew has fallen and renders hay
unfit to be packed. By this process
three or four hours are allowed for the
outdoor curing of the crop. We have
in many instances packed hay IN the
barn which had not had more than two
hours sun, which came out in spring
perfectly sweet, and was relished by
stock next to green grass; certainly
they ought to be good judges of hay
In this way we avoid the danger of
getting much hay wet and save in the
process of storing it. We are careful
not to have any water on our hay, but
We do not fear bad results from the sap
if properly packed.
When hay is pitched from the wagon
or cart, it should not be rolled off, and
then over and over to different parts of
the NOV, but it should be taken up
from the load in even forkfuls and dis
Hibuted equally over the entire NOV
and each tier packed down by walking
frequently over it.
In this way the NOW becomes solid
and evenly packed and the air is ex-
Guided, which is absolutely necessary
for the preservation of the hay-always
remembering that the greener the hay
the closer it must be packed. In rainy
weather let the hay be trodden upon
by the men. Remember to keep the
barn closed as much as possible after
ward.
Never salt green hay-it will ruin it..
The salt sets at liberty the water Of the
juices and this water becomes diffused
all through the hay causing mold and
decay.
Here are some important truths
which should be observed by every
farmer Hay may be stored in an APP
parently green condition if the barn is
tight, the doors are kept shut except
between the hours Of nine In the fore
noon and four in the afternoon, and if
the hay is closely packed.
Lay that may be safely put into a
tight barn cannot be safely put into a
stack, as the air viii condense the vapor
which arises from it and then mould
will appear. The Germans have a
practice of cutting green fodder quite
fine and packing it away in trenches in
the earth and covering to exclude air.
In this way the nature of the green
food is retained. The process is similar
to that of canning green vegetables.
The principle applied to storing hay in
mows very close and tight SO as to ex-
clude air has the same beneficial result.
Those who have not tested it will be
surprised to learn how little curing hay
requires if the air can be excluded
But in open barns, or upon scaffolds Or
in sheds or stacks, a more thorough
drying is required.
Agricultural Notes.
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