SECRETARY'S REPORT. 205 



" My horses have not been sick an hour, and the heaves are 

 unknown in my stable, which may fairly be attributed to the 

 fact that no musty hay ever enters my barn ; and, it is probable, 

 that the milk of cows may be as unhealthy, if they eat badly 

 cured hay, as if fed on what is called swill in the cities. 



" Having these covers always at hand, it has been my practice 

 to mow my grass when it was ready, toitlwut consuUing the 

 almanac, or waiting for a change of the moon; and, the result 

 has been, that I have had more than my share of good luck in 

 this important branch of business. 



" They are also very useful as a protection against heavy 

 dews^and, as a cover for coarse clover and Timothy I con- 

 sider tiiem indispensable. 



" After long experience, I have found the most approved 

 method of making the hay covers, which may be used for wheat 

 and other grain crops with great advantage, is to take stout, 

 unbleached cotton sheeting, of a suitable width, say from 

 thirty-seven to forty-five inches wide — the latter is the best 

 — cut it into squares, and attach to each corner, by a string 

 or otherwise, a pin made of wood, twelve or fifteen inches long, 

 cut off smooth at one end and rounded over at the other, which 

 completes the affair. The size of the pin should be about an 

 inch in diameter. 



" Hemming the selvages is a matter of fancy, as they would 

 do very well without it ; and, if a tannery is near by, it would 

 greatly improve them by plunging them into a vat,.for two or 

 three days ; this would thicken up the cloth an inch or two, 

 and make it more durable, as well as much more effectual. 

 A decoction of bark, with alum, or some other astringent, would 

 probably answer equally as well, b^t this is not necessary, to 

 make an excellent hay cover. Like a cotton umbrella, the first 

 dash of a heavy shower would cause it to spatter through for a 

 moment, but would do little or no harm. I doubt whether a 

 larger size than forty-five inches square, or forty-five by fifty, 

 would be desirable, — mine have been not much over thirty-six 

 inches square. 



" At the suggestion of several practical farmers of this State, 

 the Messrs. Chases & Fay, of Boston, are now establishing 

 an extensive manufactory for the purpose of furnishing the 

 agricultural community, throughout the country, with a ready 



