Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-02
Agricultural.


TO" the Cattle Can re WIntcred.
Grass never promised better than on the
FIRST day Of June this year, but the almost en-.
tire absence Of rain for nearly four weeks, at
time when it was most needed, will reduce
tho hay crop below an average. 1t is not
vt too late to supplement tho short supply
with fodder or root crops. Fodder corn may
be sown in drills, as late as the first week Of
this MONTH and with u favorable season..
would do il sown d little later. July is carly
enough to SOW fiat turnips; they are some
times sown rs late rs tho first Of August. On
warm soils, Hungarian grass is generally fit
10 cut in seven OF eight weeks after sowing.
Unless there should DO an carly frost it would
have sufficient time to grow if sown any time
before tho middle Of July. OF Hungarian
grass the Massachusetts, Ploughman says:
One Of the great mistakes that many far
ncrs make in growing this crop is in not
sowing seed enough; it it comes up thin, the
stalks grow large which makes the hay too
coarse to be rolished by cattle; in fact when
tue stalks are large it is very difficult TO cure
them 50 a. to get the moisture out from the
centre Of the stalk unless this is done the
hay is very likely to come out smoky, with
it sweet flavor destroyed. In drying coarse
Hungarian grass it should not be dried too
rapidly in the sun, but should be kept in tho
cock part Of the time to soften the outside.
and permit the moisture from within TO cs-
cape Tho value Of this grass depends very
much oil how il is cured: it will not do to
cut it one day and put it in the barn the next,
if the best results are desired, unless it has
been sown thick and the straw is very fine.
10 rtTpntrlv IItsnrsgrfn
several days it should be kept in the cock
one or two days. but the better way is TO
SOW seed enough to secure fine straw this
will require five pecks Of good seed to the
acre. As there is great difference in seed
it is always the safest way to purchase seed
in time TO test it, by planting a hundred
seeds, ana counting the number that germi-
nate. This fodder when properly grown and
well cured 10 very valuable for cattle, espe-
cially Iuilch COWS but grown and cured as
we Lave seen it, It IS but little better than
rye straw. 1t is not a desirable food for
horses aud should be ted 10 them only in linn
itcd quantities.
The same land that is good for Hungarian
Is good for fodder corn, and many farmers
prefer to raise il, believing that they get Il
larger yield, and that it is quite rs good for
cow, especially If they have convcnicnces
for eating and 5toaming it. Perhaps it would
ho best to have a field of each and thus give
Tho cattle q variety. When the system OF
keeping fodder on tho cnsilagc principle be-
comes general, fodder com will undoubtedly
takr the place Of Hungarian, on account of
the fact that much larger quantity can be
grown On an acre.
The Turner who has 10 light warm soil,
but is obliged to raise his fodder crops on
land that is wet and heavy, cannot grow Hun
garian on oven corn to very good advantage,
but crop Of oats would serve him better
When properly cured oats make excellent hay
for cattle or horses. 10 have it in tic best
condition, this crop should be cut after the
blossom drops, and before the kCrud is full
grown, or the leaf has begun to change its
color; III fact the farmer should watch and
cut his green crops when the fodder Is the
largest aud in the best condition. and he
must also exercise his best Judgment a. to
tho crops that are best adapted to lis soil.
and viii furnish the L,sl food for the stock
hc keeps never forgetting to commence in
siason to make provision for short crops in
very department Of Lis field operations
Having bad dry weather the frat part Of
the season II Is reasonable to suppose that il
will be wet during the latter part if 30, then
those who Lave moving lands that are rich
All get a large second crop, which will DO
much to make up for tic short first crop;
those WHO Lave low land in English grass,
will find it for their interest 10 give it dress
ing Of fine manure a. soon a. tic first crop is
harvested; by 30 doing, should we have fire.
quent rains, they will be likely to get as large
second as they do first crop.
IL seasons like this particular pains should
be taken BY the farmer TO not only increase
the amount Of his fodder crops, but to har-
vest them at the right time, and cure them in
the best manner. One ton of lay cut at the
right time and well cured will spend better
than ton and half cut in the wrong time
and only half cured.
There is yet time to add TO the root crops
by traEsplaIting rutabagas, which, although
perhaps not Us desirable as some roots, vet
will help to carry the stock through the long
winter, and keep them in better condition
than all dry hay. Since the introduction of
the sugar beet the rutabagas have grown into
disfavor, and their culture in measure aban-
doncd, owing probably to the fact that beets
yield larger crop and that other crops fol
low them better than they will rutabagas
but those who have neglected TO SOW beets
and find that their lay crop is coming short
can make up portion of the deficiency with
rutabagas to advantage.
Those who keep khcop will not forget to
SOW good breadth of English turnips, which
are 30 easily grown that large quantities can
be raised at very slight expense. Although
not as rich as many other roots, they make
up variety, and should not be overlooked
The successful farmer will always be on
the watch, to bridge over, in season, any
breaks that are likely to occur on account Of
an unfavoraDle state of the weather; and
thus while the thriftlCss farmer grumbles
over short crops, his hands are busy at work
IN direction 10 make up the deficiency.