Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-06-28
GUSHING Hay.

Let no fancy farmer nor any con-
ccitcd city editor delude any one into
the idea that half cured hay can lie
saved by salt, lime, or perpendicular
timbcrs: 1t is all a delusion. There
Is nothing certain in hay shaking but
to do 1t while "the sun Shines" Nor
will it do to put grass newly cut into
cocks and let it stand until cured. If
the cocks are large enough to protect
themselves from rain they will never
cure. But hay nearly cured had
better be put in cock over night to
protect it from dew, and the contin-
gency of rain, and the next day spread
it out SO soon as the dew is off the
grass, and while one hand is running
the mower let the others turn the hay
till 1t is dry enough for the barn.
Then push 1t in as fast as possible. And
when hay is fit for the barn, any hand
who is not willing to project the
hours labor, is a suitable one to dis
charge at the first opportunity.
The first crop of clover will be
ready soon. 1t is one of the most diff
ficult problems of farming to cure eff.
ectually clover hay. The plan rec.
commended by the best farmers is to
cut the clover late in the evening, be.
fore the dew falls. In this shape if i,
should rain it will not injure. The
next day, if favorable for haying, lei
ii lay until about one o'clock, when il
should be turned over. This can bt
done by hand or with tedder, a ma.
chine made for that purpose. BY -four
o'clock begin to rake and put in cock
as no clover cut in the right season
will cure in one day. If farmer ha.
a good quantity Of clover it will pay
to have muslin for caps, now tina
muslin is SO cheap. Clover will MOI
shed rain, and a heavy shower, nc
} matter what shape it is in, if partially
cured, totally ruins it. Two yards OF
white muslin will make cap. All
it needs are long wooden pegs at eacl
corner, and o stick in the cock to hold
in case of wind. Nearly all the New
England and New York farmers have
them. They will pay for themselve.
in one year, but are good for twenty
When in cock it can stand over night
or until the second day, as convent.
ence may direct. But on a fair day
spread out so soon as the dew is of
the grass, and turn freely until ready
for the barn. We say barn, for nc
other place will do for clover hay. L
you are certain the hay is perfectly
: cured, you can salt as you NOW away
, but it will keep better without tn
salt.
The second crop of clover should
be saved for seed. And to be sure o
good crop, cut the first as soon rs i
is fairly in blossom. The second crol
should stand until most of the head
: become brown, when it is better t.
cut with self-raking reaper-such
one as can be controlled in throwing
off with the foot, SO that it can b.
thrown off in winrows. As this cro]
is more for seed than hay, it SHOULD
be treated a little differently. Let
dry in winrows, then put it in SINAI
cocks, so they can be turned over oc
casionally to thoroughly dry out. l
1t should get wet or bleached it'll
! by rain or dews it will not injure til
seed, if soon dried thereafter. S,
soon as dry enough, on n good da,
haul to the barn and store away unit
clover huller can be had. Or if thi
l be impossible, on a frosty day use
: threshing machine, and run the see
. and chaff through the tanning mill. !
the clover was wet once or twice i
airing, it will be all the better, as
s will thresh easier.
t Glover seed for the past season ha
Q been enormously high, and we fear
, has deferred many from sowing thi
valuable crop to farm and stock. No,
is the time for everyone to provid
;. for themselves, and thus head off til
D rings.-C. r. GlaYAs0n.