HAYING. 189 



HAYING. 



Before the haying season is over, we may expect to 

 see numerous directions, in the papers, as to the best 

 mode of cutting and of curing the article ; but nothing 

 that we have seen is equal to the sun for curing hay. 



Clover should be moved as little as may be, but it 

 must be dried before it is carted. We have known 

 many book farmers to lose their clover and their confi- 

 dence in new projects by attempting to cure it without 

 the aid of the sun. 



When the burthen is heavy it is good to spread it 

 out in the forenoon, and not rake it the first day, if 

 the weather looks well, but turn it bottom side up, — 

 green side up just at night. The leaves will not then 

 rattle off, and the dew will not injure the green side of 

 the swath. When the weather is good, this clover 

 may be carted the second day ; and, if we doubt of 

 its keeping well, we throw on a peck of salt to the 

 ton, and we avoid stowing it away close when we have 

 room to let it lie untrodden. This often saves us an 

 hour's drying, and sometimes we gain a day by it, and 

 avoid a shower. 



To guard against rain, hay should not be rolled up 

 into cocks, but it should be pitched together by forks- 

 ful : it will shed rain better. 



Any farmer may make hay in good weather, but it 

 requires management to avoid the rain. When a 

 shower approaches, look at the main chance : get to- 

 gether the great body of the hay where it is thickest, 

 and let the scattering alone till the last. 



If your team is in the field, and you are partly load- 

 ed, let the loader jump down from the cart and help 

 the carter to pitch on enough to make a piked stack on 

 the cart, that will shed off the rain. Then what is 

 on will be secure, and you have a dry place to lie in 

 under the cart till the shower is over ! 

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