The Newtown bee., 1879-07-23
FARM, GARDEN, AND HOUSEHOLD
Curing Clover for Hay.

SAoNct my
 Clover contains more water than any other grasses; consequently it is more difficult to cure, and for the same req son is more difficult to keep. being liable to heat in the mow The natural grasses when cut for hay are generally spread and dried as rapidly as may be Tn order to secure the best result This method, experience has proven, is not applicable to the clover crops.
 Clover requires a longer time to cure 1t properly, and if exposed to the scorch- ing sun it is injured more than the natural grasses, for its succulent leaves and tender blossoms are quickly Drowned and lose their sweetness.
 A plan very generally adopted with clover is to mow 1t in the morning. let it lie a few hours, or until a wisp taken up and twisted will show no ex- udation of moisture, and then throw it up in small cocks. In these cocks, if the weather be fine or they are properly secured from rain, the hay remains two or three days, when it is stored.
 Another plan is to lay the clover upon beams in any open building, when it re- ceives the free action of the air as soon as it has wilted, and so cure it in the shade. After a few days it can be packed down without danger of fer menting. While this plan of curing under shelter makes a most excellent quality of fragrant hay it is not largely adopted owing to the amount of cover required for curing and the extra labor of hauling the grass while yet green.
 Still another method having great many advocates is hauling clover hay as soon as wilted and storing with salt. A layer of a foot or more in thickness is laid down, on which salt is scattered freely, then comes another layer of hay, | then of salt and so on until the space Is filled. A rapid fermentation ensues, the hay becoming cured by the heat of this fermentation, and the salt acting as a preventive against putrefaction. In place of salt, layers of wheat straw are some times substituted. The greener the clover the thicker should be the layer of straw, which acts as an absorbent, and during the process is itself increased in value as food, having received somewhat of the flavor and aroma of the clover. It should always be borne in mind that clover as it lies scattered by the mower, will be greatly injured if the dew is allowed to fall upon it. It ought also to be remember that clover hay will not shed rain, and hence when stacked out in the field it should be pro tected either with patent covers, thatch- ing or thick top covering of wheat straw, etc. Not few farmers consider the tedder necessary in saving good clover hay, and while much superior 1 hay is made without it, the tedder is unquestionably of great service.-Ne1C York World.
 Green Food and Grass for Fowls. Fowls cannot get along well on grain food alone, and must, in both winter and summer-the latter especially-be supplied with some green. succulent ] food C,.t thaIr xr,il1 1nno harnT1nn dis i eased or sickly, when the matter ofprotit will be very problematic indeed. Many q time have we seen persons pay snug little sums for small flock of fine fowls, put them into neat houses and yards, give them plenty of corn, wheat, oats, etc., watering them regularly, but never allow them a bite of grass or other green i food. The place must be small, indeed,
 which cannot afford enough grass for a | flock of fowls. 1fsods cannot be obtained,
 cut a bunch of fine, young grass early | every morning for them, and they will 1 show you how badly they need it by eat ing it up with evident relish. The labor necessary to supply them with this is not very great, and should be pleasure rather than a task, while the benefits
 which the fowls derive therefrom are very great indeed.
 If you do not care to give your fowls their green food in the shape of grass, supply them with a head of cabbage each day: Tie it up by the roots to some con- venient place, and the fowls will soon pick every piece off clean. This is also the way to supply them with their green winter food. Even if you have to buy the cabbage, it is not very expensive; {; for you can get the soft heads. which sell at very low price compared with the hard, solid and marketable ones, at a nominal price.-MOore's Rural Life. Striking Cuttings,
 From St. Petersburg, Russia, comes the information that in striking cut tings, if the leaf surface on the cutting, naturally placed below the soil, be left on, they will absorb moisture, and greatly assist in keeping the tops intact until roots are formed. Of course the more porous the ground the better, and in this case it should be kept quite moist, and for summer striking of cuttings It is better that they be not exposed to the direct action of the sun. The north side of a building is a good place, when they can get the morning and evening sun, and have the full benefit of the dew. The earth should be pressed firmly about the base ot the cuttings, and they should be placed close enough together so one will give partial support to another. Thus, with cuttings of soft wooded plants, placed in the ground from June 20 to July 10, we have had uniform success in the West, by taking off one-half of each leafof that portion ot the cutting below ground, and reducing those somewhat above ground.
 M. WeiGenberg, the St. Petersburg authority, says that roses, carnations and other cuttings usually hard to grow plake roots kindly, by making the cut tings pretty long, and leaving the leaves intact under ground, by which they are prevented. he says, from losing their leaves before roots are formed.-Culti- UGtOr.
 Summer Pruning of Grapevines.
 The pruning of grapevines in the summer. says an exchange, is rarely at tempted except by professional growers.