The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-02
Curing the Hnx Cron.

AHS NdluS VI the nay crop upon any
given farm will depend upon it's quantity
and its quality, says the Practical Farmer.
Quantity alone is not a sufficient guide,
and quality alone does not form a sufi-
cient basis for making an estimate. Both
conditions must be taken into the account.
The quantity of the crop is modified to
some extent by the time OF cutting, but
to far greater degree it is Influenced by
the character of the land. and by other
conditions, which, as far as the crop for
this season is concerned, cannot now be
changed. The quality of the crop also de-
ponds in part upon the time of harvest
ing If the grass is cut too early or too
late, the finest quality of hay which it was
capable of producing cannot, by any posi-
billy, be secured.
But, important as it is that the grass
should be cut at just the proper stage of
its development, there is another item
that is equally essential to the obtaining
of the best quality of hay. This is the
curing of the crop And it is right here
that a great many farmers make one of
their greatest mistakes. Sometimes the
error is due to want of knowledge con-
corning the best methods of converting
grass into hay The work seems simple
enough, and there are hosts of farmers
who would be amused, if they did not be-
come Indignant, if they We're told that II
requires both knowledge and skill to make
hay properly. These men were brought
up" on farms. They know all about hard
work. But they have never read about
their business, and they have little knowl-
edge of, and no faith in, the newer meth
DDS which science has brought to light.
But there are many others who have
plenty of information, but who do not put
their knowledge into actual use. In other
words, they dc not do as well as they know
how. There is some excuse for them, it is
true, but this does not make the outcome
OF their work any more favorable than it
would be If there were no extenuating cir
cumstauces.
The hayiug season brings great
amount of work that must, or at least
should be done in a comparatively short
time. Not only the haying must be looked
after, but there are many other things
which urgently call for attention at the
same time. SO 1t is not uncommon to see
farmers, even those who in the main are
very careful about their work, rush their
haying with great deal more regard to
speed than TO the condition in which the
crop is harV The question to be de-
cided does not seem to be how to make
the best hay that the grass is capable of
producing, but how to get the grass into
nay Will the ltdSL pOSSAbtG NOi n anu III
the shortest possible time. With some
kinds of grass, and under certain cond
tons, very rapid drying is to be commend
ed but 1t is not to be laid down as an in
variable rule for making hay. There are
many cases in which slow curing gives
better results.
We have named the pressure of work.
which at this season of the year is very
great as one of the reasons why the cur
ing of the hay crop does not always re-
ceive due attention. One other reason
should be named. This is the fact that
many farmers regard the conversion of
the grass into hay as the final part of the
work and virtually terminating their
interest in the matter. This is altogether
a too short sighted view of the matter.
If the hay is to be sold il should be cur
ed in such a manner as to make it useful
to the purchaser. If it is to be fed on the
farm il should be secured so as TO retain
to the greatest possible extent its nutri-
tious qualities. 1t will make great differ
ence with the final balance sheet whether
the hay that was fed to the live stock
during the winter was palatable and nutri-
tious or whether it's taste had been spoil
ed. and part of its nutriment had been
lost by improper curing.
IL is not to be supposed that any degree
of skill or care in curing can make a poor
quality of grass into a good quality of
hay. The curing does not put anything
into the hay that was not In the grass
before it was cured Indeed under the
most favora BILE of ordinary farm condi.
tons, there is some loss In the process OF
drying. But it is still true that the method
of curing has a great deal to do with the
quality, and consequently, with the value
OF the hay crop. This is as true of the
rowen as it is of the FIRST crop and also
applies, with perhaps an equal degree OF
force, TO other forage plants which are
not fed in a green state.