120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



turn it to pasture, and sheep are the best animals to put upon it. 

 Again, sheep are the best stock that can be pastured in orchards. 

 There is no trouble about their gnawing young apple trees if they • 

 can find bitter herbs in the orchard. It is^said that sheep require 

 bitter herbs, and if there are none in the pasture they will gnaw 

 tender fruit trees. 



In regard to the second blossoming of herds-grass, I was taught 

 it, and I have ever believed it. A few years ago, when I was 

 able to labor in the field, I observed that a few days after my 

 herds-grass had blossomed, it had the appearance, in the morning, 

 of blossoming a second time. I know it is not natural that Timo- 

 thy should blossom twice — nothing else blossoms but once — but I 

 have been told that it does, and I believe it. 



With regard to the time of cutting hay, I concur generally in 

 the views that have been expressed. We used to cut our hay too 

 late ; we are now cutting earlier, and to good advantage. I have 

 supposed that cutting grass before it seeded might cause it to run 

 out. I own a low meadow that I used to mow after I cut my 

 English hay. After a while, I mowed it before I cut my English 

 hay, say the last of June or first of July, and I nearly destroyed 

 that meadow. . Whether the same result would follow in regard to 

 English grasses, I know not. 



I was told this season by a practical farmer, who has made very 

 critical observations, that if we mow grass early it will mature 

 earlier the next season. I throw out that hint. 



With regard to curing hay, so much depends upon conditions 

 that I can give only general rules. Everything in life depends 

 upon conditions, and when I am asked an agricultural question, I 

 have to answer it under conditions. This much is certain, that all 

 grasses should be cut when they begin to lodge, and we should 

 commence early enough in the season to secure our hay before the 

 third blossom comes on any way. If we have stout grass that is 

 lodging, we must mow it with the scythe. Perhaps that hay bet- 

 ter lie in the swathe all day, and be covered at night to escape the 

 dew ; probably the next day it may be put in the cock. Where 

 the grass is not lodged, and where it is more mature, the hay 

 should be put into cock in the afternoon while it is warm, and be- 

 fore any dew strikes it. The second day, if it looks favorable, I 

 would air it, and I would sun it more. But I deprecate drying or 

 burning up hay. It is a bad way ; it should be cured as much in 

 the shade as practicable. It is better to let your hay sweat in the 



