Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-28
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Drying Hay.

We had supposed that when farmers wrote
articles for the press, especially those who
are ignorant Of the common courteses Of
debate, it was the practice Of the editor to
sift their productions aud only publish what
he thought was conducive to the public
good. We think that the editor of the FAR.
MER was very much to blame that he did
not use his editorial scissors, and trim off
the rough edges Of our hasty article. We
would say that We have the most profound re-
spect for the state board of agriculture, profess
sor and all, and particularly for the opinion of
Col Mead, aud believe that the action Of the
board for the past two or thrse years, aud
the grange movement, are doing mighty
work for the farmer aud if we pitched at
them in an outlandish way our only apology
is that it is our style. Men that are ap-
pointed to instruct should be careful what
they teach, believing that the remarks of Col
Mead at the Canaan meeting AID the en-.
dorsemeut of the editor of the FARMER as
reported in the Montpelier papers was calcu.
lated to do immense damage. We had the
courage to jump on deck with the sole OBJ
ject OF getting the views 10 full Of the editor
Of the FARMER upon this important question
and we are happy to learn that it is his
practice to cure his hay if possible SO that
it will not heat in the mOW," and that he
had known farmers to loose hundreds OF
dollars worth of hay by putting it in green
the day it was cut. Now if any sach talk
as this had appeared in the report OF the
Canaan meeting, we never should have shown
our ignorance to the courtesies of debate.
The doctrine that farmers dried their hay
too much has had its advocates for years
We have experimental somewhat on thC
theory of packing hay green aud letting il
heat, and also Of drying a nav SO that i
would not heat, and testing its comparative
value, aud have come to the conclusion that
the way to cure hay is to give it air anc
sunshine, judiciouIly, of course. This yea
we have damaged scventy-6ve tons more ol
less by packing it too green. Are now feed
ing hay to horses, full of dust and smoke
A farmer that will do that ought to go I,
school, to say the least.
More than forty years ago we lived il
Springfield, near a man who was 4 mode
farmer for those days. He cut seveuty.6v
or more tons of hay, annually. His gras
was heavy herlsgrass and clover. His mod
Of curing it was as follows: What h
moved down in the forenoon was CAREFUL
shaken out The first thing after dinner
was all turned over, and by three or fOu
O'Clock that hay must be all put into tn
cock. His theory was, by cooking it whe
it was warm from the heat of the sun tn
process of curing went on all night. Th
!. hay was again opened aud dried SO that
would not heat in the NOW at all, and if b
chance green load was put into the bari
dry straw was mixed with ii so as to pr,
serve it. That man was noted for keepiu
large stock in good condition for the quaI
5 ity OF hay he cut. l have much doubt
there has been much improvement in thi
D mans practice by all that has been said al
written for the last forty years. {
I course the introduction of the moWir
!, machine aud tedder would change Il
process some. We say, again, cut ha
: early and dry with as little as possible SO
+ will not heat iu the NOW. f. W. b.
d Correspondents must not expect us
It find them in good manners. But if We we
!. inclined to do so, We, as a member of Il
d board Of agriculture, would not "sit" fro
g communication that part of it which co
e. veyed severe criticism on the board. Il
ID board must stand upon its work. Its wO
pt must be so strong that it can stand critics
re For these reasons we published, without
ie writer's name, the former communication,
It, we do this, although that was an anon
lh nous attack upon the board. Corresponds
A who desire their names withheld from
in public must give them to the editor al
5, guaranty of good faith. 1t would be bet
10 for all parties If the authors true name '
a always signed to his statemeAts in print.
es The present communication shows d