New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-07-11
Harvesting the HaY Crop.

Harvesting the hay Crop.
The Importance of the hay crop of the
United States is shown by the fact that
its annual value is estimated at $780,
100000. The steady increase of steam,
cable and electric cars in the cities has
somewhat diminished the home demand.
for hay, but the experiences of last year
go to show that a foreign market for it
exists or can be developed. A great
mistaks in sending abroad, IN many cas-
es, very different article, created
strong prejudice against American hay
which it will take time to overcome. The
color, too. was against it. The latter
was owing largely to late cutting and
improper curing.
The objections urged against early cut,
ting are that the hay will not weigh so
much, is more troublesome to cure aud
in feeding will not ssspend' so we'll. The
first two points must be admitted, though
the increased weight secured by late cut
ting is largely counterbalanced in clover
by the shedding of leaves and seeds.
The third point which is the vital one,
is really . recommendation instead of an
objection. Early cut hay will not .'spend"
as we'll as the late cut, for the simple
reason that it is SO much more palatable
that the stock will eat more of it and
will not reject SO much as blade or
stock. The most unobservani must have
remarked that when cattle are grazing
they pass by the well-ripened grass for
that which has not yet arrived at matur-
ity, and the value of hay lies in its like
ness to grass.
Early cutting, then, is costly if the
farmer is feeding for bare subsistence;
but if he is intelligently aiming to get
the best returns out Of his stock, it is
precisely what he wants. PalatabIe
food produces growth and development
in young stock and plenty of milk and
butter in COWS. The aim of hay-
makers should be to store hay in the
possession of all its juices and leaves as
nearly as may be.
The best time for cutting hay depends
to some extent upon the kind of grasses
and the state of the weather, Timothy
should be cut while the seed is in the
milk. 1t is also less affected by wet than
clover.
The latter should be cut when in full
bloom, and just before the heads begin
to turn brown, if the weather permits.
Should this be unfavorable, however, it
will be we'll to delay the cutting, as less
injury to the hay will result from late
cutting than from wet, besides the waste
of time and labor Id the effort to cure
it.
Hay should never be cut when wet
with either dew or rain. It will dry off
much more rapidly when standing, and
cutting at that time will simply compli-
cate matters. Under the most favorable
conditions the great trouble in saving
clover arises from the fact of its carving
SO large a proportion of moisture, and
being therefore so difficult to dry on /,
sufficiently to be moved away in safety
| The best plan is to cut On sunny day
as soon as the dew is off This should
| be completed by II o'clock, when It
should be turned twice with the tender +.
This should cause it to owilt sufficiently
50 that by2 o'clock it may be put in
cocks Until the dew falls.
| OF course much depends upon the
temperature, state Of the atmosphere,
etc, in curing any grass even on bright
sunny day, the wind too has much to do
with the drying process.
| Overdrying hay is a very common mis-
take. Grass cured with the least expos
| nre to wind and sun is more nutritious
land contains less woody fibre than that
which has been overcured, besides re-
tanning It's flavor much better. Il should
Be wilted sufficiently to loosen the ex-
cess Of sap. 4 good test is the twisting