182 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



Saturday morning proved warm and foggy, clearing at noon. In 

 the afternoon of Saturday, even before the rain-drops had all dripped 

 off, and no sign of wilting had taken place, we began raking and 

 piling this clover and had it all on shock by evening. Sabbath, 

 Monday and Tuesday following, it rained at intervals. Clearing 

 on Wednesday. On Friday, just one week from the time it was 

 cut, we began to put it in the barn. We turned the shocks over on 

 the side and pulled them apart, leaving the hay as much on edge 

 as possible. We succeeded in getting this hay into the barn in fair 

 condition. This hay seemed to be about as green, soft and pliable, 

 with heads and leaves on, as before it was cut, and it practically con- 

 tinued in that condition untilused. 



You will excuse me, but 1 must say right here, although I had 

 made up my mind to try this way again, every time I fed that hay, 

 during the winter, and watched how the stock relished it, I resolved 

 again to cure my hay in this manner. 



"When the haying season of '9S came along we had twenty acres 

 to cut. We started the machine at the right time and cut and 

 shocked the twenty acres as soon as possible, regardless of weather. 

 Had it all cut and on shock before we put any in the barn. This 

 experiment proved to be satisfactory. 



The past season we cut ten acres in the same manner, cutting two 

 crops. This was not so satisfactory on the first crop as the other 

 two seasons had been, the cause being, I think, that we permitted 

 the clover to get too ripe. It did not retain its green color so well, 

 turned a little pale; otherwise we see no difference. The second 

 crop this year is in better condition. 



You can see samples of first and second crop of this year's hay 

 here on the table. 



Having these three years of experience, would say, that for best 

 results we would commence cutting when the clover is in full bloom 

 with a very few heads turned brown. Would cut in the morning as 

 soon as the clover is fairly dry, and follow with the rake as soon as 

 it has wilted a little: sav one-fourth drv, or even less. 



'Stop cutting in time to have all shocked up before night, making 

 stiocks medium size, building them with as little slope as possible 

 on the side until we arrive at a convenient height, then round oft' 

 with a blunt top, just enougli to keep the wind from turning the 

 hay off" shock. This is to get a uniform cure. If the shock is too 

 sloping and runs to a point, the top will be over dry, while the 

 buttom will be uncured. 



In four or five days after we have done shocking ''the flag will be 

 out," or, a more intelligent expression would be to say, that in four 

 or five days from time of cutting the shocks will turn a beautiful 

 golden brown. This indicates that the hay is cured. This brown 



