CHAP. vi. MIDDLESEX SYSTEM OF HAY-MAKING. 833 



" Fourth day. The great cocks just mentioned will usually be ready 

 to be carried before dinner, but this depends on the weather. The 

 other operations of the day are similar, and occur in the same order, as 

 before described, and are to be continued daily until the hay-harvest 

 is completed. 



" In the course of hay-making the grass should, as much as possible, 

 be protected both day and night, against rain and dew, by cocking. 

 Care should also be taken to proportion the number of haymakers to that 

 of the mowers, so that there may not be more grass in hand, at any one 

 time, than can be fully managed. This proportion is usually about 

 twenty hay-makers (of which number twelve may be women) to four 

 mowers ; the latter, are, however, sometimes taken half a day to assist 

 the former : in hot, wind} 7 , or very dry weather, a greater proportion of 

 hay-makers will be required than when the weather is cloudy and cool. 



" It is particularly necessary to guard against spreading more hay 

 than the number of hands can get into cocks the same day, or before 

 rain. In showery and uncertain weather the grass may sometimes be 

 suffered to lie three, four, or even five days in swath. But before it 

 has laid long enough for the under side of the swath to become yellow 

 (which will be the case if it is suffered to lie long), particular care 

 should be taken to turn the swaths with the head of the rakes. In 

 this case it will cure so much in about two days as only to require 

 being tedded a few hours, when the weather is fine, previous to its 

 being put together and carried. In this manner hay may be made and 

 stacked at a small expense, and of a good colour ; but the tops and 

 bottoms of the grass will be insufficiently separated by it. 



" The Middlesex farmers are desirous of preserving the green colour 

 of their hay as much as possible, though a lightish brown is of no 

 disservice to it. Hay of a deep brown colour, occasioned by its being 

 heated too much in the stack, is said to weaken the horses that eat it, 

 by promoting an excess of urine, and consequently always sells at a 

 reduced price. 



" In the making of hay much depends upon the quality of the soil, 

 and the kind of herbage growing on it. The hard, benty hay of a 

 poor soil being in little or no danger of firing in the stack, may, there- 

 fore, be put very early together, in order to promote a considerable 

 perspiration, this being the only means of imparting such a flavour to 

 this hay as will make it agreeable to horses and lean cattle. It will be 

 almost unfit for every other sort of stock. 



" It is the succulent herbage of rich land, or land highly manured, 

 that is most likely to generate sufficient heat to burst into flame, as 

 it sometimes does. Therefore the grass from such land should have 

 more time allowed in making it into hay. The Middlesex farmers are 

 perfectly aware of this ; and when the weather proves moderately 

 drying, they make most excellent hay ; but when very hot, or scorching, 

 they, as well as most other farmers under similar circumstances, are 

 sometimes mistaken. In such weather the grass becomes crisp, and 

 rustles, and handles like hay before the sap is really sufficiently dissi- 

 pated to render it fit to put into the large stacks. Where that is done, 



3 H 



