The Red Cloud chief., 1890-06-13
nAv


Timothy and clover ere hay
standards. says . writor In tho lIrecdc:'s
Gazette, and probably always will b
and there are many good reasons Why
they should. In the irst plsoe, che
seeds are cheap and easily sown; both
grow readily when s0wn with grain;
they mature ~ nearly the same time
and can be cut together; they make -
nearly . perfect ration - any two
forage plants can; while timothy 10
rather hard on tho soil, clover always
bettcrs Its condition.; they will form .
sod quicker than any others, and, TAX.
ing every thing into consideration. ]
see ne reason why We should try to In.
troduce any other kinds to take their
places. There are other grasses that
are ~ useful as these; but NOS IN the
meadow: orchard grass, blue grass, red
top and one or two others arc useful In
the pasture, but for hay they are not to
be compared with timothy and clover.
Tho time TO harvest any crop Is when
II Is ripe, and the degree Of ripeness de-
ponds upon tho kind OF crop and the
purpose for which II Is to bc used. II
We cut wheat or oats for hay, We would
cut them while In the milk or just -
the seed began to touyhcn; and corn for
silagc at tho same stage; then why not
grass for hay also? Al that stage Of
growth there " about sap enough in the
stalks and leaves TO mature tho seed.
and II cut then VIC get more nutriment
than II cnt ut any other period Of
growth, and IL will be distributed
through the whole plant. IL We wait
longer. much OF the nutrimcnt will bo
condensed In tho seed. leaving the stalk
nothing but straw, ~ Ia the ease with
wheat cut for the grain. The feeding
value Of hay depends y good deal upon
tho kind Of grass IL Is made Of; rye
straw has but little, oats has more, corn
still more and Timothy moro than any
Of them; but we want hay. not straw.
and We must cut II at . timc whom tho
feeding value will be distributed as
equally as possible throughout tho
whole plant. and that time Is when the
stalk contains about oil that II will
over get; the little more" that II might
get would bctter-in psrennials-bc loft
In tho roots for the benefit VI the ncxt
crop, and sometimes this must be done
In order to make tho next crop = possi-
bility.
How much shall We euro? IL . qu~s.
tiOn that must he decided each time that
We make hay. To-day the weather may
DO fine. with . good wcst wind. and tho
ground very dry. and there nay have
been little dew last night: tho timothy
was cut yesterday and raked up In tho
afternoon; II Is cured enough so far ~
keeping Is concerncd; but a. IL Il rather
heavy to handle, suppose wc 60 over the
field and throw the hay into "tumbles"
or big lunches. In doing this always
make the tumble" on tho ground.
never on part Of the windrow. because
that will insure onc damp forkful at the
bottom Of the pile, and II the weather IL
not just right these numerous damp
forkfuls will make . bad impression on
che character OF tho hay. These tumblAs
will let our western breeze "a through
the hay and carry OF tons Of water that
otherwise would be s~vsp0ratcd In the
barn. and ~ the hay must 10 punched
before 1t Is pitched (~unlcsa . loader II
uscd). We have lost no time or labor.
but have saved both. Hut II the wind Is
In the east we must be q little more
careful In putting the hay into tumblcs;
It must b" pitched rs lightly - possible
and we'll shaken apart.
II the ground Is wet from rain W
must allow still more time for curing.
~ tho cir IL full of moisture arising
from tho ground and coming with tho cast
wind. Sometimes hay can be- put away
40 groom that IL seems dangerous on ac.
count Of ia liability TO mold: bus IL
comes out bright sweet snd green In
winter; ut other timea hay, apparently
exactly In tho same condition, Gill come
out Of the NOV with . cloud Of dust
showing thatitix musty, and has lost that
swec Odor and bright appearance which
well.cured hay ought u have. II Ia
water ~ possible while the hay II In the
Held. ~ by 40 doing we moi only ave
handling the extra weight but arc surss
that tho hay will keep
II hay can be- curcd and housed with.
out cooking, ~ much time and labor
will he saved. Sometimes II IL nccNs-
sary ~ cut u Held Of grass and rock IL,
thcn TO cut the wheat. and by the time
that Ia cut tho cooked hay l. ready to In
hauled and no timc IL lost by men and
teams waiting for the hay to cure.
Hay caps are tirs,.rate things for hay
cOcks-if 1t rain% II = yet Of hands are
hurrying to . up = held Of cured hay
on account Of . threatened storm. mons
Of them can b. spared TO put ON the
caps. II . Held II 10 be cooked and left
for several days then. n csps are used.
| they will pay for their use II 1t rains
/ .