AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 293 



opposed to reason. The confined heat and moisture in the 

 interior of the swath promote fermentation, and must be 

 more or less injurious to the nutritive matter contained in 

 the glasses. It is exactly calculated to weaken the grasp of 

 the leaves, and to separate them from the stalk. It also 

 greatly weakens their general texture and causes them to 

 crumble into pieces Avhen they become dry. While this is 

 doing, the outside surface of the swath is scorched by the 

 rays of the sun, and becomes but little better than straw, 

 before the inside is moderately cured. In raking, cocking, 

 heaping, and inning, the swaths are so far separated, that 

 many of the leaves are lost before the hay gets into the 

 mow ; but few of them get into the rack.' 



We have thus given both sides of the controverted ques- 

 tion in agriculture, and our readers will take that which ap- 

 pears to them most tenable. We confess ourselves rather 

 inclined to embrace the opinions of a correspondent who 

 says, ' If it be correct to " make hay while the sun shines," it 

 may be well to make it as quickly as possible ; but in this, 

 as in many other processes, circumstances Vlter cases." 



HARVESTING. It is asserted, as a general rule, that 

 the proper time to reap wheat or rye is when the straw be- 

 gins to shrink and become white about half an inch beloAV 

 the ear. This appearance is a sure indication that the grain 

 has ceased to receive nourishment from the roots of the 

 plant ; and by cutting early, provided it is not taken to the 

 barn or stack too green, the following advantages will be 

 gained : 1st. The grain will make more and whiter flour. 

 2d. There will be less wasted by the grain's shelling. 3d. 

 By commencing harvest early, you will have a fairer pros- 

 pect of finishing before the last cuttings become too ripe, so 

 that much of the grain wdll shell out in reaping and securing 

 the crop. 4th. If you cut your grain as soon as it will an- 

 swer, your straw and chaff will contain much more nourish- 

 ment than if it were bleached and made brittle by the sun, 

 air, dew, and rain, all of which combine to deprive it of most 

 of its value for fodder. 5th. Should you plough in your 

 stubble immediately after harvest, or mow it and secure it 

 for fodder or litter, (either of which modes of management 

 is perfectly consonant with the rules of good husbandry,) 

 the stubble will make much better food for your cattle or ma- 

 25=^ 



