FARMS. 97 



large crop of Turban squashes bears favorable testimony to his 

 skilful mode of cultivation. Although the fruit crop has also 

 failed, still the earth has yielded bounteously to the husband- 

 man ; and an unusually active market has enabled him to over- 

 come the obstacles which scanty and expensive labor has thrown 

 in his way. It is a fact worthy of notice that the markets of 

 Maryland have been supplied this autumn with beets, turnips, 

 carrots and cabbages from the farms of Essex County. 



The great agricultural trial among us this year, lias been the 

 securing of our hay crop. In the early part of the season 

 grass was so light as to promise, even on the best field, hardly 

 more than half a crop, and that too, hay of a half-matured and 

 very inferior quality. It was not until the haying season had 

 begun, and, with some of the small farmers, had gone, that the 

 grass began to grow. And the unusual and extraordinary 

 spectacle was presented in August, of a scanty crop of herds- 

 grass already over ripe, through which was growing another 

 thick and luxuriant crop, destined to constitute a large part oi 

 the hay of the season. And even this latter growth came to> 

 maturity, before the rains were over, and an opportunity was 

 furnished for late hay-making. The second crop on well-culti- 

 vated fields was very large. From the first of August onward, 

 grass grew apace. Pastures became suddenly luxuriant. Fall 

 feed has been more than sufficient for all our wants. And the 

 extraordinary warmth of autumn has continued on into the 

 winter months. On the third of December, at the time of 

 writing this, store cattle, horses and sheep find abundant feed 

 in the pastures and fields, and weather mild enough for their 

 out-door subsistence. And at this date, we know of no dairy 

 stock which has been permanently housed for the winter. It 

 would be difficult to estimate the amount of fodder, grain, roots, 

 etc., which our farmers have saved through this beneficent order 

 of Providence. The stock of hay, inferior and damaged as it 

 may be, will undoubtedly be more than sufficient for the wants 

 of the season thus fortunately shortened. 



The importance and value of the hay crop induces us to enter 

 into a consideration of the various modes of cutting and curing 

 it. The best grasses known to us are undoubtedly herds-grass 

 and redtop. Clover serves as a good introduction to better 

 grasses, on land just laid down — nothing more. There are 



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