42 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



HAY PRODUCTION. 

 By Dana H. Morse, Randolph, Vt. 



In the successful growing of hay, two things are indispensable, 

 namely, thorough cultivation and intelligent fertilization. If 

 there is to be a shortage in either cultivation or fertility, I should 

 prefer that it be in the last named element. 



While attempting to discuss some of the important, and I trust 

 practical, methods of cultivation, I wish it understood that this 

 talk applies to tillage land, that is, to soil which is not so moist, 

 rough and rocky but that it can be well plowed. Farms are too 

 cheap, and tillable acres too plenty in these New England States 

 to justify one in the attempt to cultivate land which cannot be 

 comfortably and thoroughly plowed. And it may not be con- 

 sidered a wide departure from my subject to add right here, that 

 fewer acres well cultivated are vastly more profitable than a large 

 acreage poorly tilled. 



While in a paper of this kind there will doubtless be some 

 personal theory, and while every idea presented will not coincide 

 with the practice and theory of every other man, as a rule the 

 basis taken has been carefully chosen and the endeavor has been 

 to present such ideas as have specific value to the hay-producing 

 farmer and are sufficiently well established to furnish reliable 

 information and guidance. 



MOIST LAND. 



There is much moist and heavy land that can be plowed well 

 which is capable of bearing heavy crops of a fine quality of hay 

 on many farms in Vermont, and I dare say in Maine. One of the 

 best methods of raising heavy grass, on either wet or dry land, 

 is found in returning sod lands to grass at the earliest possible 

 time after plowing that the soil can be well fitted for the purpose. 

 Heavy soil plowed in July and August and fertilized with ten or 

 fifteen two-horse loads of fine stable manure, spread evenly upon 

 the inverted sod-land, thoroughly harrowed and pulverized 

 (made as fine as a flower bed), can be seeded to redtop as late 



