142 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



Here let me adjoin a few general hints which 

 swung adrift above, but which will do to follow. First 

 it is requisite that you should consult the weather 

 before you venture on the hazardous operation of 

 haymaking. The barometer is not worth twopence 

 as an authority, unless you consult it in conjunction 

 with something like Admiral Fitzroy's rules. There 

 are many safer indications than it yields. Anyhow, 

 remember always that " fair weather cometh out of 

 the north " — at least, such as you require for this 

 delicate work. Trust not the soft insidious west 

 wind, but when the hard-hearted north-east invades 

 our land from its career over the Russian steppes, 

 then order out the mowing-machine, at least with 

 security, if not in comfort. 



If, unexpectedly — as sometimes it must the most 

 provident folk — the rain catch you after commence- 

 ment with a gang of mowers, leave what is cut in 

 swathe (after the machine, summer-cock at once 

 what is cut if the weather show doubtful, and then 

 arrest its onward movement : better lose the time 

 than the sugar off the hay) ; if, however, as must 

 sometimes happen to some, the grass be in swathe 

 when the clouds begin to pour, leave it so ; just turn 

 it with rakes before the under-side grows yellow, 

 supposing damp weather to continue. So it will cure 

 much in two days, and will require not much tedding 

 when the weather becomes fine again. Hay so made 

 will retain a fair but not first-rate colour. Clearly, 

 however, you must be wide-awake, my friend, on an 

 occasion of this kind. Beware, above all things, of 

 putting hay together damp. If you suspect it, strew 



