The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-25
Ghe 8arnrer.
Early Cut Hay.

The buyers and consumers OF hay, VINO
do not themselves grow it, have 1t IN their
power to bring an influence to bear on
careless producers, which will secure a
better article for their use. 1t has been
shown in the Country Gentleman that for
dairy purposes, early cut and well cured
hay is worth six or seven dollars per ton
more than the common, over-ripe rubbish
which SO many shiftless farmers grow from
the mere force of habit. Liverymen who
buy large quantities of farmers near the
cities, and milkmen also, should seek to
engage their hay in advance of farmers
who will agree to make it at just the right
stage of growth, and for doing this they
can afford certainly to pay three or four
dollars per ton over the common market
price, and even then make money by 1t.
Tt is a common belief among farmers
that grass cut when nearly ripe gives
more weight per acre. 1t may not be
true. but if they think SO, they will be
pretty sure to let it stand to the last min
ute unless the argument of self interest IN
the other direction gets them out OF the
miserable habit. In general the idea pre-
walls that few days delay as to hay-mak-
ing is not at all important, and SO when
grain is ripening about the same time,
that gets the preference as to timely care.
Farmers should be taught-those who
seek to sell hay at least-that every crop
should be gathered at just the right time,
and that a failure to do SO will bring a
financial penalty. Late cut and over ripe
hay is little better than straw, and observ-
ing purchasers know it. Millions of dol
lars are every year lost to the country
from this one cause-because, in general,
farmers are so slow in adopting this reform.
Our modern improved machinery for
rapidly making hay favors the reform, but
as vet it does not seem to have been very
effective.
III were large buyer of hay, | GER
tainly would endeavor to secure better
article than is now the rule. Nice, sweet,
bright and fragrant hay is an exceptional
article when it should be the rule, and
might be if the great mass of farmers was
not so inveterably welded to old habits.
One argument with them is that the grass
cut in blossom is more difficult to cure than
at later period. Properly considered this
is no argument at all. As well might
man urge that it is more agreeable to be-
gin days work in the winter at clock
than Z. Hay should be made at the pc
Rod of time when it is worth the most for
stock feeding-not when farmer has
'snothing else to do and can't sleep" But
if such hay costs him more than that
which turns to woody rubbish before it is
cut, let him charge more, of course, and
no buyer whose judgment is worth cent
will object
AS experiment stations increase in num-
bers and in their resources for investiga-
tions, l hope they will take up this subject.
The ordinary farmer seems to need cline
upon line and precept upon precept" be-
fore he will leave the old ruts. The re-
suits at experiment stations will command
a respect largely wanting elsewhere, and
then with the aid of the agricultural press
to get the facts before the people, there
will be some hope for an ultimate general
change Country Gentleman.