Year: 1870


+ The discussion was opened by Hon
Harris Lewis, on the subject Of CuttinI
and Curing hay. Mr. Lewis said tha
he had found after trial Of many years
that to get hay of the greatest value 70
milch COWS, it be cut just as the gras
comes into blossom. But ifthe farme
wait to begin haying until all his gras
is in blossom, before his haying season
is through, much ofhis grass will hav,
become so mature as to make hay which
will be of less value for milcn COWS thar
good oat straw. He would therefor,
begin cutting his grass for making ha!
six or eight days before it comes int
blossom. The earliest pieces should b
cut first, and in this way, all the hay car
be gathered before any Of it becomes
hard and mature.


Cows fed on hay'cut at this stage o
its growth are more healthy than i
fed on hay over-ripe. 1t has heat pro
ducing properties enough to keep the
coat snoth, and flesh-producing pro
perties enough TO keep the skin soft
and open. Cows give nearly twice az
much milk when fed on such hay as
when fed on more mature hay. Al
this stage of growth, the hay retains all
the properties necessary to produce
milk, that the green grass has. 1t only
loses water by the drying process.
This he had been accustomen to supply
the feeding roots. His dairy had been
made to produce, during the foddering
season, by being fed with early cut hay
and roots, three pounds of cheese day.
Hay for horses and other work-ani-
mails, where muscle producing food is
required, should be cut just as the grass
gets out of blossom But if allowed to
stand until the eseed is matured,i ii becomes
woody and unfit for feed


Another reason why hay should be
got early, is the deieterious effect OF
late cutting on the meadows. If the
grass is allowed to stand until mature, a
drouth Immediately following cutting,
often times completely ruins the
meadow, when it would not have been
so injured had the grass been in
blossom.


The reason why pastures will endure
continual cropping for 50 many wears,
and still grow better instead Of being
run ont, as meadows often are, is that
the grass in them is never allowed To
mature seed.


In curing hay, it was his custom To
dry all the dew or rain from it. lie was
not in favor Of driving it too much, after
the water is out though he had some,
times put hay into his barn which was a
little too green TO come out in the spring
in the best condition. He usually cuts
his hay late in the afternoon. The next
morning, as soon as the dew is off, he
goes over it with the hay tedder, andb
fore night the hay is ready to 60 into
the barn or cock even in the earliest
period of haying and towards the close
of the season will be fit to 90 into the
barn bv one or two o'clock the day after
it is cut He does not cut hay while
the dew is on. Grass should be cut
as soon a. it lodges, no matter at what
stage of its growth this may happen.


lie puts his earliest cut hay where he
can feed it out during the spring, from
the time when the cows begin to make
bag until they get out to grass The old
objection to early cutting, that it takes
too much time to make the hay, when
the grass is so green, has been obviated by
the hay teddcr. This makes it possible
for farmers to make the hay while the
grass is green, almost as quickly as
without the tedder; it can be made
when the grass is nearly mature:


Every farmer should have plenty OF
farm implements. Great losses are
often suffered, because Of a want of an
extra rake, or tedder, or wagon. when a
sudden shower is coming up


Mr.. Cronkhitc asked if it paid ocock
up hay, when it is fit to 90 into the
barn Most of the members thought
that the hay would be made somewhat
better by being cooked but not enough
to pay for the expense of cooking.


Mr.. Skinner said that he cocks seven
eights of his hay; but whenever he gets
it dry enough to 90 into the barn with
out being cooked, he always puts it in.
Heneverallows any ofhis hay to stay out
over night unless it is cooked.


Mr.. Brown said he had never seen
any injury done to neat stock by dusty
hay, when the dust is the result of heat,
ing simply, although it is injurious to
horses.


Mr.. Barnum asked the opinion OF the
club on the use of salt on hay that is
somewhat damp All agreed that it
was injurious. 1t adds dampncsS t" the
NOW instead of keeping it dry.


Mr.. Barnm said that many farmers
who sell hay think the salt adds to the
weight of the hay, and he thought this
was so.


Mr.. Burlck asked ii poorer quail
ty Of hay had not been made since the
introduction of the moving machine, up
to the time of the introduction Of the
tcddcr


The members were decided in their
opinion that such was the case. They
all believed that the hay as it lay after
being cut hy the machine, did not cure
as well a. when cut by the hand scythe
and spreap with a fork Hence they all
considered the tedder indispensable
where the moving machine j. used
If;r1 HerUH.