45.2 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Hay-making What necejfiiry in. 



fpecls &quot;will be rcquifite than in the firft, as the crops are moftly much lighter and 

 more difficult to cut, the fcythe being apt to rife and flip through the grafs without 

 cutting fairly, except when in the hands of an expert workman. Crops of this 

 fort mould always be cut as much as poflible when the dew is upon them, and as 

 foon as ever there is a tolerable growth, as by waiting, the feafon is conftantly get 

 ting more unfavourable for making them into hay ; and when not well made this 

 fort of hay is of little or no value. 



The quantity of ground that can be mown in any given fpace of time mud depend, 

 in a great meafure, upon the weight of the crop and tl * capability of the workman, 

 but in general an acre is confidered as a full day s work for a good mower. 



When the grafs has been decided to be in the proper condition for being cut 

 down, a fet of mowers, proportioned to the extent of the crop, fhould be immedi 

 ately provided. In fome diftricts it is the cuftom to pay thefe labourers by the day, 

 but a better and more general practice is to let the work at a certain price by the 

 acre. A fuitable number of hay-makers are likewife to be obtained ; in fome 

 cafes two or three are deemed fufficient for each mower, but in this diftricT: the 

 ufual number, including pitchers and ftacker, is about five, who proceed with 

 their work after the mowers, and are paid by the day. In hot or windy feafons 

 a larger proportion will be necefiary than when the weather is cloudy and cool. 

 About one half may be women. If a due proportion is not preferved, much in 

 convenience and difadvantage will arife in having too much cut grafs on hand to be 

 perfectly managed. 



Hay-making. The great art of converting grafs into hay conlifts in rendering it 

 fufficiently dry to prevent its taking on too great a degree of heat in the ftack or 

 mow, and at the fame time preferving a large proportion of the natural juice of the 

 plants. Where the medium can be attained with the moft exactness, the befl and 

 moft nutritious hay will be produced. It is, however, a difficult point, that requires 

 much care and attention. In fine feafons the great danger is of not making it 

 fufficiently,while in thofe of the contrary defcription it is apt to be made too much. 

 This is fully evinced by the great inconveniences that are frequently fuftained from 

 ffae heating of the ftacks in the former cafes, while in the latter it is but feldom 

 heard of. 



It has been fuggefted by an accurate obferver, that in the making of hay &quot;fome 

 attention mould be paid to the quality of the foil and the kind of herbage growing 

 ( uponit. The hard benty hay of a poor foil is in little or no danger of heating 



