Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-07

of any reliable fertilizer and one hundred
to one hundred and fifty pounds of the
muriate of potash per acre, and lay 4
down to grass. Unless his land is widely
different from mine the increase of the
two succeeding crops will amply repay
the cost OF the special fertilizers.
commence haying about the 18th OF
June, taking those pieces which show tue
most clover first, and when about one-half
of it is in blossom, never cutting It down
when the dew is upon it. Hstter remain
idle than cut it down in such condition.
as more time will be required to secure it
than when free from dampncss. # is
usually put into the cock before the dow
falls upon it, and allowed to remain undis.
turbed except being turned up from the
bottom to dry out the moisture that may
have gathered upon it from the earth, uuti
1t Is carted to the barn. Alter the hay Is
once put into the cock 1t IS never spreaa
out again unless wet with rain. Too much
drying Injuries it. The appetizing quail
ties are Injured and the nutritive proper
ties, | verify believe, though contrary to
accepted theory, are chemically changed
by SO long exposure to the burning heat
of the sun.
There is little danger OF sustaining loss
from putting hay too green into the NOW
1t will keep in good condition with much
less drying than is deemed necessary by
the great body of farmers.
Two samples were cut when entirely free
from dampness, and after being thoroughly
wited, bat full of their natural Juices
they .were put into two air tight casks and
stored i'll the center of the NOW until
nearly spring when the casks were opened
and the hay was found to be in the same
condition nearly as that which surrounded
the casks. As single experiment IS not
sufficient upon which to establish prac
tice others were tried, like putting green
hay, on that which was but partially dried,
into the center Of the NOW and covering
it with hay as usually dried and stored.
In all these trials the hay came out in
gooi condition, plainly indicating that hty
may be safely moved containing more oi
its natural juices than is practiced by the
maiorities Of farmers,
The secret Of success consists in having
| tight barns and filling the mows rs quickly
rs possible. When the NOW is full, cover
it over with straw to the depth of four or
six inches. The straw will absorb the
moisture rs it rises from the hay and pre-
serve it in II good degree from mould and
| must.
take two crops almost invariably the
first and second years my meadows arc
in grass, aggregating nearly three tons
| per acre, or about two and oue-half times
As much rs the average yield Of Vermont
rs returned by the statistician at WASH
ington for the year 1880. These fields are
frequently plowed before the grass has lost
its vgor. dressed with stable manure upon
the surface and thoroughly worked in with
puverizing harrow, and supplemented
with some special fertilizer, as soluble
Pacific guano or muriate of potash applied
bl oadcast early in the spring Of the year.
Il is no unguarded remark, uttered in
the Gush of enthusiasm, to say that there
are hundreds of farms scattered all over
the state which could be made to produce
double, yes. thribble their present amount
1t can be verified by him who will make
an intelligent use OF all the means within
his reach. Let him study the soil he tills;
its needs. its capabilities; acquire an in
telligent understanding of the chemical
constituents OF the crops he would grow.
that he HAY be better prepared to Judge
of the extent to which they exhaust the
soil and too that he may more fully com
prehend the utility Of applying special
| fertilizers 20 maintain its fertility. Let
him experiment, note and compare
results, seize upon the advantages indi
Gated and incorporate them into his modes
of cultivation. Let him read. reason,
think and act.