The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-07-17
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Curing Glover for Hay.

grasses when cut for hay are generally
spread and cried ~ rapidly us may bC
i'll order to secure the best result This
method. experience has proven. is not
applicable To the clover crops.
Glover requires longer time to cure
it properly, and ifrXpoSed to the scorch-
ing sun it is injured more than the
natura! grasses, for its Succulent leaves
and tender blossoms arc quickly
Drowned and lose their sweetness.
A plan very generally adopted with
clover is to NOW it in the morning,
let it lie 4 few hours, or until 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-
cciveS the free action Of the air us soon
rs it has wiitcd, and so cure it in the
shade. After few days it can be
packed down without danger of fer
mcnting. While this plan of curing
under shelter makes 4 most excellent
quality of fragrant hay ii 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 4 great
many advocates is hauling clover hay rs
soon as wiltcd and storing with salt.
n 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 ensucs, the
hay becoming cured by the heat Of this
fermentation, and the salt acting rs q
preventive against putrcfactiOn. In place
of salt, layers Of wheat straw are some
times substituted. The grecner the
clover the thicker should be the layer of
straw, which acts as IN absorbent, and
during the process is itself increased in
value rs food. having received somewhat
OF the flavor and aroma of the clover.
1t should always be borne in mind
that clover rs it lies scattered by the
mower, will be greatly injured if the
dew is allowed to fall upon it. 1t ought
also to be remembered that clover hay
will not shed rain, and hence when
stacked out in the field it should be pro-
tccted either with patent covers, thatch-
ing or Il thick top covering of wheat
straw, etc. Not few farmers consider
the tcdder necessary in saving good
clover hay, and while much superior
hay is made without it, the teddcr is
unqueStionably of great scrvicc.-Neoc
York World.
Green Food and Grass for Fowls.
Fowls cannot get along we'll on grain
food alone, and must, in both winter
and SUMMERTIME latter eSpecially-be
supplied with some green, succulent
food. or they will, ere long, become dis
eascd or sickly, when the matter of profit
will be very problematic indeed. Many
Z time have we seen persons pay snug
littlcsu 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 bite of grass or other green
food. The place must be small, indeed,
which cannot afford enough grass for a
flock OF fowls. 1fsods cannot be obtained,
cut 4 bunch of fine, young grass early
every morning for them, and they will
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 a pleasure
rather than 4 task, while the benefits
which the fowls derive theretrom are
very great indeed.
- IF you do not care to give your fowls
Enkar green food in the shape of grass,
supply them with head ofcabbage each
day. Tie il up by the roots to some con-
vcnicnt 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 4 very low price compared with
the hard, solid and marketable ones, ut Il
nominal price.-M0orc'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 ii >hould be kept quite moist,
and for sunni. rstriking of cuttings 1t is
better that they be net exposed to the
direct action of the sun. The north side
of 4 building is 4 good place, when they
can get the morning and evening sun,
and have the full benefit Of the dew. The
earth should be pressed tirrlly about the
base OF 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 mad uniform success in
the West. by taking of one-half of each
lCafof that portion OF the cutting below
ground, and reducing those somewhat
above ground.
NJ. WciGenbcrs. the ST. Petersburg
authority, says that roses, carnations and
other cuttings usually hard to grow
make 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 tOrmcd.-CNNi-
cGtOr.
Summer Pruning Of Grapevines.
The pruning of grapevines in the
summer. says an exchange, is rarely at
tempted except by professional growers.
But it is very useful practice. 1t keeps
the vine within bounds, prevents much
useless and wasteful growth which
would otherwise divert the strength of
the plant from the formation of fruit,
and greatly improves the quality Of the
grapes. There is no secret about the
method With 4 sharp pruning knife
(Which has Il curved bladc) slash off by
quick stroke the ends of the shoots
which are intended to bear fruit, leaving
those intended to make wood to grow
on. If fine fruit is desired, only one
sbunch should be left on each spur OF
shoot branch: if abundance is desired