Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-11
5arm ann houssbolO.
P0rtiGRd Press.
Tie Eay Cree.

The hay crop the present season can
not tail to be enormous. Every favor
able condition has occurred TO produce
not only large but an early crop.
Already some fields threaten 10 lodge
and become injured. Old precedenis
that have ruled the time for having will
have TO be abandoned thi. season
There will be few fam wait until
July to cut their crop of timothy this
year. For the first time in our cxper-
ence we have made hay in May; and
there arc many fields Of clover and
timothy that will need TO be cut very
soon to save the crop from damage. To
cut early this year must be the rule,
and especial care will be needed TO save
the crop of succulent grass without in
jury. By cutting early second crop
may be made, which will be prevented
if the present heavy growth is permitted
10 fall down and shade the ground.
In curing very succulent heritage
some care and method will be advisa-
aole. To dry such grass under a hot
sun Injuries the hay very much; If their
is much clover, the leaves are broken off
and lost, and the stalks lose the greater
part OF their substance aud become very
dry and woody. Curing in the cock is
the best plan under these circumstan-
ces; but 10 do this successfully requires
time, labor, and good management. 1t
requires time, because TO cure in the
cock is slower process than sun-dry-
ing, and labor and good management,
because the hay thus cured undergoes
considerable fermentation, and will
speedily heat and contract mildew If
this is not prevented by careful watch
ing and opening the cocks for q fiael
drying at the proper moment.
When hay is to be cared in the cock
it should be left in the swath for sever
al hours. That cut in the morning at
ter the dew has been dried off should be
raked up into winrows before the dew
falls in The evening. Ii is thus left I'M.
Ill the afternoon of the next day, when
II is forked up into cocks or tall heaps
containing 200 or 800 pounds of hay,
or about five feet wide and equally
high, narrow and pointed on sharply AT
the top. In this shape the cocks will
she'd much rain, and Unprotected by hay
caps may safely be lett in the field until
the whole crop is secured. Hay caps
are squares OF brown sheeting two yards
wide, tthis is large size, and 54-incL
sheeting would make Il moderate sized
cap). The edges are hemmed down
and strings fastened TO each corner, By
which the cap thrown over a cock j.
tied down TO pegs trust into the hay.
When the hay is thus put up-intC
cocks it still contains some sap. Thii
undergoes process of ferme ntation
and considerable heat supervenes. Thi:
cures or changes the character of th,
hay. Part Of the woody fibre is chang
ed into starch. gum and sugar, and th,
hay becomes more nutritious. II i
sweeter and more palatable. 1t alst
becomes possessed of an agreeabl,
scent, and loses some of its verdan
greenness, becoming brownish green
Ii the hand is trust into a cock twent,
four hours after it has been put up
considerable warmth will be felt, but ]
the grass was free from surface mois
I'M ha xro mill h. A.
damp or steamy. The heat will readil
escape if the hay is left standing in tn
field, but if it is 10 be drawn home, i
is best to overturn the cock and expos
the hay TO lew hours sun In the mid
die Of the day, and begin TO haul it t.
the barn or stack by three O'clock. con
tinuing until seven in the evening.
After the heating in the cock Their
will be no heating in the barn, as tn
chemical change which produces rhi
has slready been completed. Earl, Gu
hay Thus treated is of remarkable excel
lence for milking cows, and gives fin
er flavor to the butter made from il
An almost parallel method of maxim
bay is to draw il to the barn or STAG
twenty.four hours after being cut, an
while still green, and pack it away i
layers of loot thick with straw alter
nately. A brisk fermentation ensues
the straw absorbing all the moistur
evolved, no mischief is done; on tn
contrary, the hay is cured as in the COG
and its nutritive properties increased
while the straw acquires an agreeabl
favor and greater nutritive value
.New York Times