VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 75 



hay tedders, hay loaders, horse pitch forks with pulleys attached 

 which with a little planning by the farmer elevate the hay in al- 

 most a load at a time to the top of hay loft. One thing, however, 

 is important to keep in mind i. e. in regard to how much of this 

 paraphernalia is worthy of attention or can be profitably used by 

 the farmer. Judgement and common sense are necessary ele- 

 ments to use in deciding in reference to these matters and often 

 times mark the difference between success and failure in farm 

 management. 



Not too much can be said, however, in praise of the coming 

 and use of farm machinery, not only as a labor saver, but also 

 for the stimulus it has given farmers to clean and smooth their 

 meadows, and even road sides, from rocks, loose stones and a 

 useless and ugly growth of trees and bushes. 



The weather b aureau too has come along to be of great 

 service to the hay makers. While it cannot warn us of every 

 shower that ma) 7 come suddenly around the mountains, we can 

 learn with a degree of accuracy the approach of storms of any 

 continuation or length. No grass, particularly heavy grass, 

 should be cut while the dew is on or when wet. Grass cut late in 

 the afternoon so it does not wilt or dry by the heat of the sun, 

 no harm will come to it if a heavy dew falls. It is a poor practice 

 to cut grass in the middle of the day and leave it partially cured 

 exposed to the dew or rain. The ideal hay is that which is cut and 

 cured in a dry sunless day, with no dew, and with the least pos- 

 sible handling. A burning sun renders the hay brittle, and the 

 most valuable part of it will be lost in handling. And while it 

 is not our desire to injure the interests of any manufacture, 

 right here we cannot fail to warn farmers to use the hay tedder 

 with care and judgement. 



Clover should be put in the cock as soon as wilted, not 

 rolled up but pitched together in small cocks, when free of dew 

 and warm. Carefully open them into two or three piles once or 

 more, and when the water is all out and stalks fairly cured, put 

 it into the mow. The closer it is packed and the tighter the 

 barn, the better will be the hay or the clover. 



The Hon L,. M. Bonham of Oxford, Ohio gives us a formular 

 for securing clover hay that strikes me with much favor. He 

 says — ' ' I put my clover hay in the mow the same day it is cut. ' ' 

 (Speaking of mow he describes a tight mow)," The hay is far 

 better and the labor and risk of making far less. I select a 

 bright day and start the mowers as soon as the dew is off. Turn 

 clover before dinner. Rake at one o'clock, put the hay in mow 

 at once, while warm and free from external moisture. The 

 clover hay thus made goes into the mow with ever} 7 leaf on it, 

 keeps bright and sweet and comes out fragrant clover, with all 

 the heads and leaves of good color." Secure all of the hay 



