Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-07-27
AGRICULTURAL.
July WORK.

~ considered as the peSiunlES VI ual
vesting. In the old style of farming
the laying usually began by the first
or Immediately after the 4th Of July
OF late years there has been a strong
tendency among more intelligent
farmers to begin the haying earlier
and many now put in the scythe OF
the moving machine by the middle OF
June, and some even earlier than that.
Haying, therefore, has actually begun,
and though the weather has been
"catching, " with very frequent show
ers and light rains, considerable pro-
gress has been made and much hay
has been stored in this part Of the
State. The yield has been heavy, bet
ter, as a general rule, than TIE aver
age of years. It is seldom that we
have a season so favorable for the
growth of grass, and where land has
been in fair condition it got an early
start and grew straight ahead.
There is a decided advantage in be-
ginning to cut early in such season
as this has teen. 1t gives time for a
good second crop to grow, and that is
of itself a very considerable gain, be-
cause whether it is thought best to
cut and cure it or not, it shades and
protects the ground and the roots Of
the grasses through the hot weather
and the dry time which we usually
get III July or August. 1t is an adj
vantage to cat even timothy as soon
as it is we'll headed out and before it
is blossomed. To feed out to dairy
COWS it will make more milk than
wien cut later, and it will be more
likely to start up enough to furnish a
protection to the roots. If it is al
lowed to stand till it blossoms or ma
lures, it will start very slowly and a
drought will greatly injure if it does
not wholly kill it out. Timothy starts
up, after being cut, much more slowly
than most other grasses anyhow, and
hence it is important to favor it as
much as possible in order to get the
ground covered with new growth.
Hay or grass can be exposed too
much TO the hot sun in the process of
curing. We cannot always regulate
this matter perfectly, but we think it
too important to be overlooked. We
have no doubt the same general prin-
ciples hold here, as those adopted by
our fathers in the curing Of herbs.-
They had an idea that it was better TO
cure them slowly, in partial shade,
than in the broiling sun that their
peculiar qualities and strength We're
better preserved and refined with.
out too much exposure. They were
sensible people in this respect, though
it did not occur to them that grass
does not essentially differ from sage
and spearmint, arroWroot and a thu
sand other plants, in its loss of its es-
sential qualities from an over expos
ure to a hct sun and too rapid dry
ing. We want our grass cured so as
to preserve its sweetness and aroma
in the highest degree. We want grass
dried, but not burnt to crisp, 50 as
to take the life out Of it. In the early
part Of the season two days may be
necessary to effect this, but later any
time after the beginning Of this
month, one good hay day ought to be
sufficient, as general rule.
Some exceptions may occur as with
very heavy grass, or grass IN the shade
Of trees, but the judgment Of every
farmer will be adequate to all such
cases. There is no occupation where
greater judgment and good sense are
required than in farming. Success
depends very largely upon the eXer-
else Of sound judgment and discretion,
though promptness to do what is best
just at the right time and in the right
manner, are almost equally impor-
tant. Farming is not mere routine
business, like many of the mechanical
pursuits, where the thing to be done
is always precisely the same, where
the rule is fixed and inilexible, and
where the result is sure to come out
just so every time. If it were, it
would be a comparatively simple
matter to give rules and to follow
them. 1t would require but little in
telligence, and would open the door
70 little mental or moral growth