Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-24
A Bit of Aftermath.
HOW SYNDICATE PAID FOR GRASS.

Itwas a plat of about fifteen acres
1t was first harvested for bay, the las,
week in June. The last week in July ID
was tit 10 cut again. The barns being
crowded 10 their utmost capacity, JUS
what 10 do with this crop was question.
But a rich syndicate, which has a world
wide reputation tor integrity and hon
esty, came 20 the rescue. They offered
70 buy this plat OF grass standing, TO
harvest il in the mos, approved manner,
70 feed it where il grew, agreeing that
al manure, both solid and liquid, should
be left scattered where the plants grew.
Besides, there should be suffciency for a
rich carpet left to cover the ground, as a
protection TO the roots for winter.
The price asked was FIVE hundred dol.
lars, which they readily accepted, but
they demanded a sufficient time 10 do
this harvesting, even If il took sixty
days, which was the limit. II looked 10
me as if the alfalfa part would spoil un-
less harvested within ten days, but they
seemed To think differently. The hsr-
vest commenced the next day, with
twenty effcien, laborers. watched
this harvest with much interest-it was
one sheen of purple blossoms. These
they commenced TO harvest, taking a
very small bit Of stalk with the blossom.
10 ten days they had nearly completed
this part Of the harvest. | noticed that
a pew growth at once started al the top,
and also that in their harvesting they
had taken a little Of the orchard grass
al haS 50
grasses had not commenced 10 stalk up.
but were a mass of leaves nearly wais,
high. Suffice il TO say that they took
the whole sixty days 20 complete the
harvest, and they had kept the grass
green the whole time.
They paid the $500 aud approximately
had left the entire crop where it grew.
This was Just sSS Is per acre; besides
they had laid carpet that would beat a
Persian rug. These laborers were so
faithful and SO diligent that took the
time 10 interview them several times.
They belonged 10 no union; there was
no talk Of strike There was no
Of length Of days, no show OF
greed. no disposition 10 hoard. How
happy the farmer that can always en-
ploy such labOrers, They can even teach
him con,entment They were the mem
bers Of the syndicate, as well as the
lsborers-my herd of twenty young
cows.
l am sure that a man of nearly four
score years. ii be is willing, may learn
something almost daily. | had always
been told that alfalfa, while green, was
a dangerous food, especially when wet.
On one day, while this harvest was
progressing, it was cloudy and 6ne
mist fell nearly the whole day, keeping
the grass wet as with a heavy dew.
These laborers kept up The harvest the
entire dsy, not even stopping fer their
usual incoming. Passers-by msrveled
greatly. expecting dire results. At
nigh, their leather sacks were crowded
10 their utmost capacity, giving them
the full satisfaction Of Gis.ensiou. No
bad results followed. They all reported
toI duty next morning. Some OF the
other grasses mixed with the alfalfa
made il q perfectly safe food. / am
quite sure i; should never be soSn alone.
Orchard grass is IL TO harvest AZ the
sane time, and its presence is benefit
rather than otherwise. These two
grasses take the least from the soil aud
are the most nutritious.
II tevery farmer looked upon his farm
n the one God given talent that he is
bound . return % MS Master, would he
mpoyerish il or would be make il ten
dimes more productive than az first that
he might De counted worthy of a greater
,rusi? To make land rich, We have only
20 keep il covered, and for this there is
nothing quite equal to a thick, heavy
.Od. No matter how many crops are
taken Of each yea, the and is growing
richer every wear ss long as these con-
diuoo. are kept apt A. Cole, Aadi-
son County, Y. Y, in Country Gentle
nan.