Year: 1871

ls


On looking over the articles published
IN the Farmer during the past year, on this
subject, l was struck Gas | think others
must nave been) with the diversity of views
ana ana practices reported and recommended.
ihese views and practices are very con-
illetlng. 1t would seem as if the true
method OF curing hay was as far from be-
ing demonstrated as ever. Some are even
now affirming that grass should be fully
ripe, or the seed formed, before being cut
Tor hay; others would cut when in full
bloom, and others affirm that it should be
cut down previous to blooming, if we
would secure the greatest value of the
hay crop.


None the less varied are the methods
contended for or condemned in curing
nay. one cuts when the grass is free from
wet, Wits little and mows away in a
tl9ht barn, and has excellent hay, another
says he tried that method and lost his hay,
1t was worthless. Another mows in the
afternoon, turns next day when the dew
IS OIL and gets it during the afternoon.
another correspondent cannot carry out
such programme; it requires too much
help. Another thinks there is no real loss
in exposing hay to the sun two or three
days, while others are emphatic as to there
| beng great loss from such summing, and
recommend its being put into cock when
| dry, kept day or two, then opened and
summed previous to housing. We might
90 on multiplying diverse theories and
practices, and have to come back at last
to the question. When is the best time to
cut grass. and what the proper method of
curing it?


Let us look at what we may suppose to
be some of the reasons why such diverse
views prevail, and such diverging results
are recorded.


Now as to the proper time for cutting
grass for hay. The most careful expert
ments both in our own country and in
Europe seem to have demonstrated the
fact, SO far as evidence can demonstrate
anything of this character, that grass cut
when dry and in full bloom is, all things
considered, in the best possible condition
to make the best and most profitable hay.
| Circumstances may vary this general
rule in an appreciable degree, but doubt
still fingers whether the variation contend
ed for is really admissible. 1t arises from
the practice of some who keep cows Tor
milk exclusively, and hence want the
nearest approach to succulent food to Sc
| cure the greatest quantity of milk Ex-
| periments serve to show that grass cut be-
| fore it blossoms will give the desired re-
| suit at the same time it is not clear that
| the loss in the quantity of hay obtained,
| and its unfitness for working animals, does
| not more than counterbalance the gain in
| the quantity of milk.


| AS to the practice of allowing grass to
| form the seed, it is needless to say much.
The advocates for it are fast disappearing
and the practice will soon be among the
things that We're. There is no doubt
that such hay, Gfitis proper to call it hay)
is, as claimed, less liable to loosen the
weather than early cut grass, but the
same may be said of dry brush and many
other things. -


After all, the proper curing of hay is
where the greatest interest centres. A
lack of judgment or want of thought
often results in serious loss to hay max
ers. When | see statements made by re-
liable men OF their practice in curing hay,
each claiming to carry out the same de-
| tails, and one reporting satisfactory re-
suit, and another the reverse, / am sat
| lstied there must have been some radical
| difference in the conditions under which
these varying results were obtained
| What these differing circumstances were,
becomes an important question: especial
ly to the man who failed to make good
hay. When u person says he gets the
best of hay from grass cut in full bloom,
cured and housed the same day, / be-
lieye him; for l have done the same,
and am knowing to its having been done
by many others. A gentleman in New
Bedford has practiced this method for
more than score of years with grass
yielding over two tons per acre, without
II single failure, and you, Messrs. Editors,
testify to the same results as coming
within your knowledge, in remarks APP
pended to an article in last years month
ly, page 405.


1t is well known fact that rain (es-
pecially if it falls copiously) deprives
standing grass Of much of its good quail
Etes for IL short time after; that is, grass
cut Immediately after a rain will not
make as good and sweet hay as it would
previous to the rain, or as it does after
a days bright sun. To this cause is to
be attributed the poorer quality of hay
| in wet seasons.


The wet condition of the soil operates
dsadvantageously in curing hay, by rea-
son of the vapors that arise on the SUMS
shining after fall of rain.


Admitting these statements, have we
not a clue to the reason why some fail of
saving hay in the manner referred to?
One person goes into his field, thinks his
grass is dry, and cuts it; another waits un-
til he is certain it is, and gets good hay
from it. think it is just at this point that
the results diverge, and the one has DAM
aged, and the other good, sweet hay.


If labor was not SO costly, this question
of curing hay would be shorn of much of
its Importance. But so long as farmers
have to pay such large wages, it becomes
them, If they hope to succeed in their cali
ing. to seek for, and practice the least
costly methods OF doing their work that
are consistent with its being well done.


am quite sure il would be profitable to
keep (if we have IT'D each seasons straw
and swale hay orer to the next season.
and mix it through the hay crop in suifi-
cient quantities TO preserve it without wilt