154 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



(clover, timothy and rcdtop.) "WIiou it is seeded in fall, nothing 

 but timothy is usually sown. 



It is better to sow grass seed with grain. It should be sown 

 after the grain is harrowed in, and then be covered by brushing, as 

 harrowing covers too deep ; the grain being of more vigorous 

 growth, protects the grass seeds from the scorching rays of the 

 sun till the grain is taken off, which give seeds all a chance to 

 germinate and become rooted. Wheat give us the best stubble. 



I cultivate timothy and clover only. Redtop comes in naturally 

 in sufficient quantities. I cut in the morning, open the swaths 

 soon as the dew is off, let it lie till towards night, then am sure to 

 put in cock before it is dampened any by the dews ; next morning, 

 when the ground has become dry and warm I spread it, and about 

 eleven o'clock turn it over, and have it put in the barn by four 

 o'clock while it is warm by the sun. 



Clover I treat nearly the same, not dr}^ it quite so much, and 

 sometimes let it stand in cock the second day and get in the third. 

 I consider clover worth some more for cows and young stock than 

 other hay, but not so much for oxen that work. 



I prefer to cut grass soon as the blossom begins to fall or change, 

 as cattle will eat it as readily cut at that stage as any other, and it 

 contains more nutriment, is better for fattening than if cut either 

 earlier or later. 



The effect of early cutting is, the hay is not worth so much on 

 account of its not getting to maturity ; cattle will eat it with as 

 much avidity as later cut, but it is very apt to give them the scours ; 

 and if late cut, cattle will eat it only by compulsion through fear 

 of starving, having lost the qualities which made it palatable ; be- 

 sides which, late cutting is destructive to the roots and permanence 

 of the grasses, while early cut does not injure their permanence as 

 the seed does not come to maturity. 



I use no salt or lime in storing my hay except in cases of extreme 

 necessity, I use a little salt, say two or three quarts to the ton. 



Do not use a mowing machine, but think it a profitable invest- 

 ment under proper circumstances. 



I use the wire spring tooth horse rake ; think that the best unless 

 the ground is perfectly smooth, when perhaps some other rake 

 might be preferred, onlj^ by its being easier to manage. I can 

 rake as much with my horse and rake as five men can in the same 

 time with small rakes, and do it as well. 



Do not use hay caps, but consider them a very useful article." 



