SECRETARY'S REPORT. 259 



As to the state of dryness, haymakers differ considerably. My 

 rule is this : take up a handful of hay and twist it as liard as I can 

 with both hands, if it breaks off I consider it too dry, if no moisture 

 exudes from it, I think it dry enough to mow down. 



Clover should receive different treatment. My method is this : 

 as soon as it is fairly wilted, it is thrown into cocks of fifty or sixty 

 pounds each ; the next day, if the weather is fair, it is all carefully 

 cocked over and, the same, each succeeding- fair day, until it is dry 

 enough for the barn. 



It is best to cut grass when full in the blossom, and from that 

 time till the seed is formed, as we thus secure it when in its greatest 

 perfection. 



1 think early cut hay is much the best ; but grass should not be 

 cut before it blossoms. Not only do we lose in the quality of the 

 hay by cutting late, but its effects are injurious to the permanence 

 of the grass roots. 



Farmers that cut their hay too late are great losers. I think 

 early cut hay is worth twenty per cent, more than late cut, if 

 fed without provender. As far as my observation extends, those 

 who delay their haying till late usually obtain small crops, and 

 stock fed on such hay show evidence of its poor quality." 



By David Allex, Upper Gloucester. 



" I consider the best tim.e to seed timothy and redtop, eai'ly in 

 autumn, if the season is not too dry, for the reason that it has the 

 advantage of autumn rains, as also those of the spring, which 

 saves it from being killed by the drouth, if there should be one, 

 early the next season, and the clover seed to be sowed in April, 

 following. I have never sowed grass seed alone in the spring. I 

 prefer seeding to grass in the spring, with wheat or barley, because 

 they will tend to prevent the v/eeds from growing and overpower- 

 ing the grass. 



I cut my herdsgrass and redtop and spread it to sun until two- 

 thirds day, then cock it and again spread, until so dry that it will 

 not sweat much in the mow. I cut clover and let it remain in the 

 swath one day ; towards night it is pitched into small cocks and 

 there stands, until nearly dry, when it is turned over and spread a 

 little if necessary. There is more loss by late than by early cutting. 

 Experience has taught me that two inches above the ground is as 

 close as grass should be cut. If it is cut closer than that, the hot 

 sun has a bad effect on the roots. 



