The Opelousas courier., 1891-10-17

oeeh CUT Inree weeks, q repeatedly
turned. that was not wilted more than
grass that had been cut here for three
hours. And it did not seem to be in
jured very seriously. In u climate a
few days of such exposure would make
the hay fit only for the dung heap. Why
this difference2
When grass and clover are growing
the leaves and flowers are covered with a
film Of gum. Pull of a clover blossom
and you find it sweet. If it were not
for this film Of gum or wax the rains
and dews would wash out the sugar.
When we cut the clover or grass and it
dries rapidly. the film of wax cracks and
then the rain can get at tho sugar and
wash it out. This is the one most i'm
portant fact to be clearly understood
and observed in curing grass. The
reason why the grass that had been cut so
long in England was injured so much less
than we should have supposed was due
to the fact that the weather was SO wet
and the air SO charged with moisture
that the grass remained nearly as green
and full of sap as if it had not been cut.
The film of wax was still unbroken and
the rain could not get at the sugar. If
we cut a field of clover, and rain imme-
diately follows, before the clover wits,
no harm is done. But if the clover is
partially cured and is then allowed to lie
u exposed to the rain or ever to a
heavy dew, much loss of sugar and other
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Our own plan of curing clover or a
mixture of clover and grass is to start a
couple of moving machines in the after
noon, and not touch it again until next
morning. While it is green the dew in
the night will not injure it, and If it
should rain in the night or the next
morning little or no damage will be
done. 1t is better not to touch the hay
until there is a chance of getting it dry
enough to put into cock. Fortunately,
as soon as the rain is over aud we have a
clear sky and a brisk wind the hay will
dry with wonderful rapidly. We saint
no eight-hour men on such a day. unless
they do not commence work before noon.
The hay must be got into cock before
one leaves the field. It is then, if the
cocks are well made, comparatively safe.
We like to get hay in without rain. If
it is not cut too early and has not been
injured by rains or dews, it is astonish-
ing how green it can be put in the NOW
without injury. The richer the sap the
better it will keep. A few days of sharp
fermentation will do no hahn. The
heat generated will kill the microbes,
and decomposition will stop.
It should be remembered that there is
quite a difference between internal and
external moisture. Ordinary green
clover or grass, when cut, contains
seventy-fve per cent of water. In
other words, a ton Of grass contains
1900 pounds of water and 500 pounds
Of dry hay. A ton of dry hay, when
growing, contains 5000 pounds of water.
It is not necessary to get rid Of all this
water. If 5000 pounds are evaporated,
the hay as put in the barn would contain
thirty-three and one-third per cent. of
water. If the heat generated in the
NOW ~evaporated 500 pounds more water
the hay would then contain twenty per
cent. of water. This is a little more
than hay as sold or fed out usually con-
tain s.-Amsricaa Agriculiurist.