THE GENESEE FARMER. 



203 



e should prefer to cut while it is in hlossom 

 ther than to wait till the seed is even approb- 

 ating to ripeness. It is better to be too early than 

 o late. 



It must not be forgotten, too, that when grass is 

 t early the aftergrowth is much heavier. 

 Many fanners contend that it is injurious to tim- 

 hy or permanent meadows to cut too close — cer- 

 inly not closer than an inch. 

 As to the best method of curing hay, there is 

 o much difference of opinion. It seems to be 

 cided, however, that if properly cured the less 

 i grass is exposed to the hot sun and drying 

 nds the better. Hay is often dried too much, 

 cured so that it will keep well in the mow, that 

 ill that is desirable. If cut with the machine in 

 i morning after the dew is off, and left spread on 

 i ground till one or two o'clock, it can be drawn 

 o winrows with the horse-rake, and put into 

 all cocks towards evening, and then put in the 

 n the next day or the day after. If the grass is 

 y heavy, it will need turning while lying spread 

 i on the ground, before it is- ready to rake up. 



CLOVER HAT. 



Ls a general rule, clover hay is undervalued in 

 i country. For sheep, there is no hay equal to 

 md even for horses, when properly cured, it is 

 ellent. 



'o cure a heavy crop of clover is more difficult 

 n to cure a crop of grass. At all events, it oc- 

 ies more time. Clover is quite succulent. We 

 e determined the quantity of water in many 

 iples and found it to amount to from 75 to 80 



cent. It takes some time to get rid of this 

 ;e quantity of water, though in our dry, hot 

 late clover can be cured much more readily 

 i in Western Europe, and especially in England 



Ireland. 



lover, from its succulent nature and tender 

 •es, is more liable to scorch when exposed too 

 :h to a hot sun than timothy or other grasses. 



this reason, it should be cured in the cock as 

 :h as possible. Another point to be observed 

 he saving of the leaves. These are the most 

 [able portion of the plant, and unfortunately 

 off easily when not carefully handled. For this 

 on, when cut with a scythe clover should not 

 pread out. It must be allowed to remain in 

 sward, and be turned in the afternoon before 

 ;ing into cocks. It is then left in the cocks till 

 ciently cured, which will be in three or four 

 ?, according to circumstances. It is well to turn 

 cocks before drawing them in. 



In England, where the weather is often very 

 "catching," clover bay is mixed with straw in 

 stacking, a thin layer being spread between the 

 layers of clover. The dry straw absorbs the juices 

 of the clover, and the cattle eat straw and all with 

 a relish. A quart of salt to each load can also be 

 scattered upon it to advantage. 



Another method practiced by the English farmers 

 in stacking clover hay may be mentioned. When 

 the hay is so damp that there is danger of its heat- 

 ing excessively, a large four bushel sack is filled 

 with cut straw and placed upright in the centre of 

 the stack, the clover being placed round it. As 

 the stack rises with each additional layer of hay, 

 pull up the sack, and so on to the top. This will 

 leave a chimney in the centre of the stack, through 

 which the gases and moisture can escape. In this 

 country, such a practice is seldom needed, but may 

 occasionally be resorted to with advantage. 



"NOV/ YOU LOOK LIKE A GENTLEMAN." 



Such was the remark we heard a farmer's daugh- 

 ter make, a short time since, to her brother. He 

 had been hard at work, and his clothes, and espe- 

 cially his boots, were covered with dust and dirt. 

 His cravat was untied, his hat slouched, and alto- 

 gether he presented rather an untidy appearance. 

 He felt dirty and uncomfortable. He sat down, 

 took up a paper, but seemed uneasy. At length a 

 sudden idea seemed to strike him. He sprang up 

 with resolution in his eye. Presently the blacking 

 brush was heard in the woodshed, and the broom 

 whisp played a lively tune on the dusty coat and 

 pants. Shortly our young friend made his appear- 

 ance, smart and clean, and bright as a button. 

 "Now you look like a gentleman/' said his sister, 

 and truly. Better still, he felt like one. 



And why should not farmer's sons look like gen- 

 tlemen ? There is surely nothing in their vocation 

 to hinder. It is the " most honorable, the most 

 healthy, and the most useful pursuit of man." 

 Why should not those who follow it be gentlemen? 

 In the majority of cases they are gentlemen. 

 Why should they not look like gentlemen? It 

 must be confessed that they do not. Don't be of- 

 fended, for we are ever ready to "stand up" for 

 Ainericau farmers, and especially for the young 

 farmers of this country and Canada. Take them 

 as a whole, they are second to none in industry, 

 enterprise and general intelligence. Perhaps a 

 little too self-important, but that we can excuse in 

 young men otherwise unexceptionable. In intelli- 

 gence, they compare favorably with the farmers 



