The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-09-21
Ghe &armrr.
Glover Aftermath.

been followed by approval and disapproval
by writers in other papers A. my aim
is to disseminate truth aud not error in
vite rather than shun discussion and IN
vestieation. The advance in agriculture
which has characterized the last fifty years
has come from research and experiment on
scientific lines. Like the medical proies
sion that of agriculture has been largely
empirical. Farmers too. like doctors. do
not all agree Some. too, are prompt to
denounce another methods without the
honest trial | have always had the most
confidence in the man who was willing to
take his own medicine. 1t Is the quaok
who claims that his medicine Is the only
one that cures and Is good under all cir
cumstances.
In making clover hay We often have a
complicated case. when the practice must
vary 10 meet conditions In my article
ON Glover Hay and How To Make It.
after giving method Of making the best Of
hay in one day limited the condition.
saving aIf one can have good hay
weather. etc. To succeed in making hay
on this plan It will not do to haul in in the
cool Of the evening. Better leave II in
windrow until the next day The secret
i to get rid Of external moisture, and this
condition is reached. if at all, in the heat
Of the day. For lack Of space | do not
say that the hay made in the manner de-
scribed was better brighter and more
fragrant than any ever made 90 saw
made BY the old way Of cooking and cur
ing in the field from two to four days but
the has made in one day was always better
in every respect than that left in the field
longer. Ii had every head and leaf left
on Il. and even the bloom. when il came
from the NOW. often had a bright, pinkish
tinge. Ny cattle, horses and sheep al
WAYS approved Of the quality, and ! was
pleased at its fragrance. color aud com
pleteness when taking it out Of the NOV.
haze made these further claims, as |
think my former testimony was not strong
enough. | wish to add that unless the
day was fair and the ground dry | never
attempted to make clover hay in one day.
but had to take more time and be con
tent with poorer article which cost more
labor
To give your readers the views Cleaned
from other writers | submit the following:
Dewitt in the Indiana Farmer tells how
ne surprised his hired man and neighbors
by beginning June II 1894, to cut clover
hay. The weather and ground were right,
bur the heads OF the clover had not begun
10 turn brown vet He says
The mower was started when clover
was dry Of dew in the morning and thirteen
acres Of clover were put up in good shape
by three men in four days, and there was
not a brown head in the whole field.
we know we have the best hay for
the stems are eaten up the eleanest we
ever had
The weather changed and there were
vet five acres in the field, cut one week
later Ii was cut a. soon as any other IN
the neighborhood. The stock did not eat
it up clean and did not seem 80 greedy
for it.
Further on he says Haul in the
afternoon while hot aud before the dew
begins TO be noticed on the clover.
Now comes c. p Goodrich in Prairie
Farmer. His first sentence has the ring
Of authority and positiyeness
Good clover hay cannot be made IN
one day. nor two days. | know that some
men do. by using the tedder several times,
get in their clover hay the next day after
il Is moved. and sometimes the same dag.
They think it is dry enough, at least II has
been scratched around enough to knock
of most Of the leaves. but the thick stems
contain 50 much juice. if the clover is cut
when il ought TO be. that it heats in the
NOW or stack and Is poor hay
Unfortunately this testimony is to-
largely imaginative The testimony d
Dewitt and the writer is that the hay made
in one day was good. bright and fragrant,
and retained the heads and leaves better
than when left in the field longer. He
then tells how he makes clover hay. bat
does not say he ever took advantage Of
good weather and make good hay in one
day. That We may do him justice We
quote him in full
4 will tell the way | have practiceC
for some years, and if clover hay is made
that way il is much superior to any othel
kind Of hay, especially for milch cows.
begin cutting when in full bloom in the
morning after the dew Is off. it Is just a,
well, or better, to cut late in the after
noon before. just after noon, fit Is gooC
dry weather, | 90 TO work with the horse
rake. 1t needs a good, strong rake witt
such green clover, for it is only wilted
and much of the under side is almost a
green and fresh as ever, but in dumping
the rake it is thrown bottom side mp, 81
that the greenest is on top. About tou
o clock commence to pile it up in small
cocks. | take FIVE swaths, piling two OF
each side on the middle one. As it ha
not been spread by the tedder each ont
can be taken up at forkful and the NV
piled right top each other, making small
sharp pile. small at the bottom. | do no
use my tedder. usually, unless there shoul'
come a rain while the clover lies in tn
swath. Then use it TO stir it up, 50 a
to get the water out.
Il leave the hay in the cock two o
three days till it has heated up and swea
considerably. Then it is spread out
little by taking off each forkful as it wa
put On. and turning it over leave it TO
two or three hours to air; them it is haule