SECRETARY'S REPORT. 169 



By Cyrus R. Morton, Union. 



" At a meeting of the Farmers' Club of this place, to consider 

 some of the questions of your circular, it was decided, that it was 

 better to seed grass lands in spring, and as early as possible, sow- 

 ing grain also, (wheat the best.) 



Two methods of curing Timothy and Redtop were advocated : 

 first, by spreading out the first day and cocking up at night ; open 

 the next day and make just enough to keep in the barn. The 

 other, to make it in the cock— a small majority in favor of the first 

 mode. 



Two methods of curing clover also : first, by letting it remain in 

 the swath the first day, turning it at night ; the next day cock it 

 up, and haul it in the third day ; and next, to mow one day and 

 haul in the next, putting a peck of salt to the ton — about the same 

 majority in favor of the first method. A minority believed that it 

 is best to cut as soon as the seed is formed — being more hearty 

 and nutritious. The majority were in favor of cutting when in 

 bloom, as cattle like it better, the hay will do them more good and 

 the future crops are better for early cutting, and the grass holds 

 out longer. 



Decided unanimously to cut as close as possible — as more hay is 

 obtained, and the roots less liable to die out. 



Use Paschal's patent revolving horse rake, with a saving of three 

 fourths of the labor. The Kent's patent spring tooth rake saves 

 a third of the labor. 



To top dress with three cords of manure and a bushel of plaster 

 to the acre, will increase the crop one half, on poor mowing. 



It is very injurious to feed off mowing fields." 



By Samuel Butman, Ply'siouth. 



" From my experience in seeding to grass, I much prefer the 

 spring. I have seeded several times in September, and sometimes 

 with good success ; but nearly one half the seasons, it has proved 

 an entire failure. I have seldom, if ever, failed of a fair crop of 

 grass, when seeding down in the spring. 



I think it safe to sow grass seed with grain ; but I prefer wheat 

 or barley to any other kind. I am unable to state why grass suc- 

 ceeds with me better, when sown with wheat or barley, than with 

 any other kind of grain. 



In curing my lierdsgrass and Eedtop, I uniformly give it the 



