The Progress., 1894-10-13

but never blindly. Keep your eyes
and senses on the lookout, ard if the
advice doesn't turn out we'll, do lit
tie Investigating on your own hook,
for, even Stubs or Phares is not
lnfalllble.
For hay the general rule is "cut
when ia bloom," as at that stage
there ls more nutriment in the stalk,
it is more pa]atable and digestible,
and SO much has not been taken from
the land as when seed have been
formed.
To this rule there seems to be at
exception in the case of peas. Few
writers seem to care to tackle the
when" in this case, and my recollec-
ton is that by those who do venture
al opinion it is put at the time when
pods are half grown. TO this must
take exception, and stick to the rule
when in bloom" | have saved lots
of pea vine hay, and seen lots of it
saved; but the Gully time | ever
thought | made success of it, was
when | broadcasted four bushels of
peas to the acre, cut when in full
bloom, and got ABOUT week of open
weather to cure them in.
Oats, cut III bloom, make fine hay,
we'll re!ished by stock, and the hay is
highly recommended by our Dr.
Stubbs. If l had an oat patch, and
had any doubts about having enough
bay, | would most Certainly cut part
of it in bloom.
Mllet, after it natures seed is not
considered near SO good hay ia when
cut earller-the reason being given
that the seed are too small to be well
digested, more liable to founder than
corn. and the forming of seed draws
largely upon the fertility Of the soil
In fine, the concensus Of opinion
among those who make study OF
the matter is that hay should be cut
when the plant is in bloom.
HOW TO CURE.
On this head there can be no def
mite, iron-clad rule-though the great
feature is not to let the hay get wet
by rain or dew after it has once thor
oughly wilt-d. l believe the best
general line of action to be about as
follows: Begin cutting after dew is
off, that evening rake into wiDdrows
all that is we'll wilted, and the nex'
evening put in small shocks, and it
"a hours longer put several small
cocks into a large one, and about the
nexu day put away in ricks or mows
and if possible, cover the top From
an experience of several years, I ain
convinced that oats and milIet cut al
} the bloom period cannot be safely
) put away in bulk under four days
| aud pea vine hay requires at least ;
full week, and is consequently both
ersome commodity.
Alfalfa, l know, can be put ava!
, at the end Of three days, and orchard
/ grass sometimes in two days. O.
r course circumstances and weathe
t alter the cases, and having tim
| should claim the undivided attention
r of the farmer. l would always pre-
: fer my hay to get rain or dew, ate
4 being shocked, or at least windrowed
3 than while in the swath. Should il
get wet by rain sufficient to requir
handling, it should be done quickly
| and no more summing allowed tn N i
t necessary to dry the water out, thel
re-cock 1t. If there is time to do so,
9 prefer to cut only after 3 pm, aDt
/, continue into the night as long a
, the driver can see, as by that meau
1 the grass will not wilt before the mex
mornings sun has dried off the dew
t and has the whole day in which t
9 cure.
Now, il we are going to cut hay,
l very important feature is the tool W
l are to handle it with, for time is none
; in haying more than in anything els
< / know of. First, Of course, is goo'
q mower, next good rake; us to ID.
4 mind these are indispensable, whe1
3 even small quantity of hay is save'
a each year. Another tool that l neve
I saw in this State, till | bought one, i
0 a hay tedder.
{ For scattering and turning hay