The Osceola times., 1880-07-31
FACTS FOR FARMERS
Good Hay-Hungarian Grass-p
Notes.
GOOD HAY

soou Hay-huhsaTihh Grass-Rana
Notes.
GOOD HAY.
Probably there is no one thinc
duced on the farm, which is presop pro,
in worse condition than hay. If il eu @
lected until too ripe, Is then scorchoa,s
the sun or nodded by damp and far,ay fu ny
tation. Cutting and curing need rad'l,
reform. 1t is not all careless neclec,
press of ether business. In manv Or VI
1t is stubborn error in opinion as 10 10
proper time TO cut hay. 1t is so hard % ~
eradicate hoary error in this, as well W !"
in all other respects. Rcformation ha a
to give precept and example with a' na
tience. Agricultural societies. VIA pa,
conducted by farmers, give preminn'a
for the purpose of stimulating improva
ments in the management of the fa,n,
If they are managed by horse iocEers
racing will be the main feature IfI,,
railroad men and hotcl-keepers ,Ss
main object will be tn get out crowd.
so to add largely to railroad fare and bo''
tel bills. Then we say, if farmers arc
managing societies, we know of no ono
item on which premiums could be mora
proftably given than on samples of we'll,
grown, clean, sweet hay, cut at the Sea-
son when most nutritious. Hay il hs-
coming an item of the greatest imnor-
tance as we are changing from grain n
grass and stock farming. In view of the
fact that managers of the societies al
ways need some hay, provision might he
made TO buy and use the nay presented
for premiums. The agricultural papers
have been calling attention 10 this snh.
icct, but it will need the aid of apriml.
tural societies and every other innuenc.
TO correct the errors AMI practices in cut
ting and curing this important element
in raising cattle, horses and sheen
There have been some valuable experi.
mcnts made in this st lie as to the value
OF cutting hay early, and faithful re-
port of the results would aid materially
in the reform IN contemplation.
HUNGARIAN GRASS.
Comparatively few farmers raise tbis
crop, though it is very productive and
excellent for most kinds of stock, if fed
in the proper manaer. The time be.
tween sowing and harvesting is shorter
than for any field crop raised on farms.
II is useless in this latitude 10 SOW il
early in the season. To produce good
crop the entire growth of the plant must
take place during very warm weather.
II sown at the same time oats are. the
plants will make very slow Z, owth. and
will remain stunted during the entire
season. The trouble some farmers hay,
experienced with Hungarian hay has
arisen mainly from allowing the grass TO
remain uncut till the seed was nearly or
quite ripe. 1t should be harvested as
soon as the seeds form and before they
have commenced to mature. Another
difficulty has arisen from the amount Of
dust Hungarian grass often contains As
it grows on land that was recently
plowed and harvested, and over the sur
| face ot which there is no sod, much dust
| is likely to be disturbed in raking and
itching the hay. This may be pre-
vented very largely by cutting the grass
! quite high. and by gathering it when it
is cured with mandrake instead Of a
horse rake. fgathered in this way and
pitched on the cart when the ground is
moist with dew nearly all the dust usu-
ally found in Hungarian hay may be
avoided.
RANDOM MOTIFS.
In Minnesota, experience has demon
| s,ratcd that the best soil on which to
plant amber cane, is a sandy loan, well
iertilizcd and drained.
LAND should not be piowcd while too
wet, for it becomes hard and cloddy as
1t gets dry, and il il contains much clay
| the clods will sometimes remain all sum
mer, resisting every effort to reduce
them.
LIGHT pruning Of trees can be safely
done at any time Of the year, except
when the sap flows. But heavy pruning
should only be done when the tree is
making its most rapid growth, or when
the leaves fall.
As trees invariably lose some Of theil
roots when taken up from the nursery
it is necessary to cut back the branches
at the time of planting, that propel
balance should exist between the stem
and the roots of the tree.
Is putting out orchards recollect thai
peaty or mrcky and damp soils, or cole
and spongy places, or wholly unfit fol
fruit orchards. In rolling grounds, i
the swales are the least wet any seaer
of the year, it Is useless to set out tree
in them.
CuLTIvAToRs differ in their opinions
about the necessity of mulching newly
set trees; the practice is nevertheless ac
companicd with excellent results; it pre-
vents the moisture of the ground from
evaporating and maintains a uniformity
of heat and moisture conducive to th'
formation of new roots.
The helfer calves from the best cow
in the dairy, bred in the manner pointed
out, should be kept aud well taken ear
of. This is the main point, A good an
imal may he spoiled in the raising. A
good cali may be raised on skim milk; II
fact, full milk is not desirable for stool
calf We want bone, muscle, and
good, well-built frame, not fat moi
rounded, and well filled nanks.
STRANGE rs il may seem, the swee
potato is very little known or used II
England. In a recent number OF th'
Garden, a correspondent says that ht
amused himself on recent cold day by
roasting some sweet potatoes obtained
IN Covent Garden, and found them very
good, giving them something between
swectmeat and a vegetable. He think
il would be boon if they were SEM ''
England IN such quantities as would az
l.. Al -. l..