AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



while in blossom, makes dusty hay, owing to the pollen ; which 

 is unpleasant, if not injurious to stabled animals. 



Late experiments, very carefully made in Scotland, show that Italian 

 and Perennial Rye grass, mixed bap, and clover, cut before flowering 

 (a,) when in flower (b,) and when ripe (c,) fatten in unlike proportion, 

 so as to be valued at (a,) 6d. per stone of 28 Ibs., (&,) at 5%d., and (c,) 

 at 5d. At the same time it was found that good oat straw was just as 

 valuable as hay for fattening beef animals, when roots, oil-cake, &c., 

 \vere given as the main food. 



399. The more simple the operation of hay-making the better. 

 The following plan h;is been followed for many years with 

 complete success, the grass being pure Timothy, and Timothy, 

 Bed Clover, and June Grass mixed. If the meadows are ex 

 tensive, begin mowing when first the heads appear. Do not cut 

 till the dew is nearly or quite risen, leave till afternoon in 

 swathe, rake into windrows with horse rake, and form into light 

 cocks, each containing about one hundred pounds of dry hay ; 

 next morning, as soon as the dew is risen, throw these cocks 

 open ; and leave them so for a couple of hours, and then haul 

 into sheds. Let a man stand with a bucket of salt, and scatter 

 about half a handful on each large fork-full as it is packed 

 away ; using about an ordinary bucket-full of salt to a ton of 

 hay. This is all that is necessary. The hay will come out in 

 the winter nearly as soft and green as when put by ; and will 

 be eaten with avidity by the stock. If it is intended to be 

 stacked, it had better stand the second day in cock, and be 

 treated in the same manner as above on the third. If the 

 grass has flowered, even this labor is not necessary. It may be 

 cut in the morning, raked into windrows in the afternoon, and 

 immediately hauled into sheds. By this rapid process, nothing 

 is lost ; the wax, the nitrogen, and the salts are saved ; much 

 labor is saved ; and risk from rain and dew is not incurred ; while 

 the common salt prevents fermentation, souring, and the growth 

 of the fungus so common on badly made hay, usually known as 

 mould or mustiness, and which is so injurious to horses* 



*The following passage contains much valuable practical matter, based on true 



