m 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AVurST 8, 1S38. 



AND gardener's JOURNAL. 



Boston, Wednesday, Aooust 8, 1838. 



HAYING AND HAY. 



Tlie h.iyingsi:nson in Ihe lower part of Massacliusells 

 18 now over ; and in llio western part of llie stale It is 

 fast progressing towards a conclusion. On highly cul- 

 tivated and new lands, or lands recently laid down to 

 grass, the ciops have hcen large; in oiher situations 

 not so large, bi:t about one lliird less than the last year. 

 We hope some of our intelligent farmers have exper- 

 imented upon the moiles of making hay and other mat- 

 ters ; and will give us the results of their observation 



First, as to the tiine of cutting the cro|). in Mas- 

 sachusetls, Herds Grass or Tiniotliy is the [irincipal 

 grass grown. What now is the best lime fur mowing 

 this grass .> The general answer given by the farmers 

 is to eut this grass when it is in the flower ; or when 

 ihu bl^>^som begins to fall. Cy some it is maintained, 

 and this loo upon l.igli autiiority, that Herds Grass is 

 most nutritious, when it has become completely ripe ; 

 and the su^ is in that state that it would vegetate per- 

 fectly if planted. We deem it a matter of considerable 

 importance to determine this point. In Sinclair's tables 

 of the nutritive properties ot different grasses, between 

 Timothy cut in the flower or cut when perfectly ripe, 

 the diflerence in favor of lis perfect ripeness is very 

 considerable ; the precise ditJerence we are at this mo- 

 ment without tlie nieanit of ascertaining. We do nut 

 expect from our farmers & critical exactness; hut we 

 have no doubt that many of our experienced and intel- 

 ligent farmers have made careful observations of this 

 matter, and their opinions are what we want. Let the 

 farmers, if they can, say then what trials they have 

 made, or what they have observed in this mailer Some 

 persons insist that the appetite of the cattle is the best 

 criterion ; and that what ihey like best must be best lor 

 them. We have not the same implicit confidence in the 

 wisdom of this bench of judges, though so much given 

 to sage reflection in their ruminating hours. It is cer- 

 tain that if loft to them they would much prefer lo eat 

 Indian Corn for example in a green and halfformi.d 

 stale ; but will any farmer say that corn in this coiidilion 

 would yield as much nutriment as when jierfectly ripe .' 

 We have great respect for animal instinct : but we 

 have much more respect for the reason and experience, 

 and sound judgment, based upon careful observations, of 

 intelligent men. 



A second matter ot important inquiry respects the 

 curing of clover hay. Some years since an ex|)eriment 

 was made by the Rev. Mr I'ackard of MarlhiMo'— and 

 another by Samuel W. Pomeroy, Esij. then uf Biighlon, 

 a gentleman possessed of one of the most observing and 

 acute minds that are to be met with, of curing clover hay 

 by sailing it, the details of which experiments were 

 given in the Massachusetts Agricultuial Repository. In 

 these cases llie clover was cut in llie morning and ear- 

 ned in in the afiernoon and when packed away abun- 

 dantly salted. It is said that this hny came out green, 

 fair, and in fine condition. But there is a prejudice 

 against this mode from a notion, perhaps not without 

 foundation, ihat the quantity of salt necessary to be em- 

 ployed in such cases destroys in some measure the nu- 

 tritive properties of the hay. 



Be this however as it may, ano'hor inculp has bMpn 

 adopted lo some extent in this and neighboring stales ; 

 that of cutting the clover wliile dry or free from wet- 

 ness, and after a few hours sun upon it without shaking 

 or spreading it abroad much, putting it in a cirk ; al- 



lowing it to remain until it becomes well made in the 

 cock, and merely turning it over the day of its being 

 carried in that the bottom of the cock may become dry ; 

 then taking it into the barn. We are not certain, that 

 we have described this nicthoj inlelligibly and properly ; 

 but we hope that some of the farmers, who have cured 

 their clover hay in iliis mode will set us right both as lo 

 the mode and the results. 



There are other points in regard to hay, which we 

 wish could be determined. For example is bay injured 

 by sweating in the mow or not? Many of the farmers 

 on Connecticut river, who were in the habit of " ma- 

 king their hay a great deal," have altered their course 

 and now get it in, in a much shorter time and in a com- 

 paratively green condition. They say much labor is 

 saved and the hay spends better for their cattle. It 

 does not come out so bright ; the top of the mow will 

 appear even discolored and injured ; and it would 

 scarcely pass for merchantable hay in Boston, but the 

 stall-fed cattle cat it better and thrive as well upon it; 

 and therefore they consider it more succulent and nu- 

 tritious, than if it was as thoroughly sun dried as possi- 

 ble. An experienced English farmer, upon whose au- 

 thority we place some reliance, was accustomed to say 

 that hay was always better louse 111.5 expression, for 

 " sweating well in the mow." It will certainly not do 

 to get hay into ihe barn with any wetness upon it from 

 dew or rain ; but with how much of the natural mois- 

 ture or sap remaining in it, it may be safe to put il 

 away, is the point on which we solicit information. 



Anolher point of importance respec Is the spreading of 

 hay. Should it be given in a long slate, or should it 

 be cut; and if cut should it he cut tinely or coarsely. 

 Wc have many facts on the mailer of cutting all feed for 

 stock ; but we want more facts from the careful and ob- 

 serving. One of the Agents of the Eastern Stage Com- 

 pany, who had under his charge a large uuniber of hor- 

 ses, said that he preferred to give them hay cut about 

 four inches long rather than shorter. It compelled the 

 horses he said to chew their feed, whereas when cut 

 short, an inch or three quarters of an inch in length, 

 mastication was imperfectly performed Men in all 

 such cases are seldom without a reason ; but perhapg 

 the true reason was that bis machine was not adapted to 

 cut his feed shorter than four inches in length. 



Another matter which we wish could be ascertained 

 relates lo the shrinkage of hay. How much will a quan- 

 tity of hay weighing one ton when put into the barn at 

 haymaking, weigh in the month of March ensuing; or 

 how soon docs it arrive at a condition, where it may be 

 expected to hold its own. We have generally heard it 

 estimated at one fifth loss in that time. We have no 

 facts in the case ; but it is obviously a point of much 

 imjiortance in determining the farmers, who sell hay, 

 and tlia persons, who buy hay, how the price should be 

 made up; and at what rate tliey can afford to sell hay 

 from the field compared with what ihoy may expect tu 

 obtain for it in the spring. 



Counlerfeit two dollar bills of the Stale Dank, stere- 

 otyped •Id plate, signed K. A. Bourne, Presl. and Geo. 

 Homer, Cash, are in circulation, well executed. The 

 genuine bills have " Massachusetts " over the rentre of 

 the bill, the spurious have " Massachusetts" on the end 

 of the bill, and not over the centic. By attention to this, 

 they may be easily distinguished from the genuine. 



MassachDsetts Uorticnltural Society. 



Saturday, Julxj SI, 1838. 

 The President and several genllemen were present 

 at this meeting. The principal business before them 

 related to the arrangement fur the annual exhihition. 



On motion of Mr Grosveuor, it was voted, — That the 

 society have an exhibition of Fruits and Flowers, in the 

 month of Seplcraber fol'owing, between the 10th and 

 25ih of the same, at such lime and place, wilhin the 

 above limitation as a committee iiereafler to be chosen, ' 

 shall, consid*Ting the progress of the season, deem most 

 expedient. 



A general Committee of Arrangemenls was then cho- 

 sen, viz : 



Committee of Arrangements — Samuel Walker, Isaac 

 P. Davis, Thomas Lee, Lemuel P. Grosvenor, Marshall 

 P. Wilder, Ebenezer Putnam, E. Weston, Jr , Jacob 

 Tidd, Renj. V. French, Samuel Downer, David Hag- 

 gerslon, Wm. McLennan, Charles M. Hovey, M. P. 

 Sawyer, Joseph Breck, J. E. Teschemacher, Cheever 

 Newhall, Wm. Kenrick, Robert Treat Paine, Henry 

 Sheaf, Samuel R. Johnson, S, Sweetser, Robert Man- 

 ning, J. M. Ives, Dr J. C. Howard, P. B. Hovey, V.. M. 

 Richards, John A. Kenrick, Wm E. Caiter,J.L. L. F. 

 Warren, J. W. Cowan, J. W. Bus^ell, Jona. Winship. 



On motion of Mr Grovesnor this committee was or- 

 dered to fill vac.incies, and add to its number if found 

 desirable — and the same was voted unanimously. 



On motion of Mr Richards, a decorating ronimiltee 

 was raised, with authority to add to their number. The 

 genllemen of this commitiee are the following. 



Special Committee to decorate the Hall and take charge 

 of the Fruits and Flowers — Samuel Walker, L. P. 

 Grosvenor, Col. M. P. Wilder, J. E. Teschmaclier, Wm. 

 Keniick, E. M. Richards, S. R. Johnson, C. M. Horey, 

 D. Haggerston, W. C. Cowan, J. W. Russell, li. Sheaf, 

 Mr McLennan . 



EXHIBITION OF FRDlTS. 



Saturday, August 4, 1833. 

 JlppUs. — Good specimens of the following kinds from 

 Mr E. M. Richards; Early Hardest, Curtis' Striped, 

 William's Favorite. 



.Apricots. — Good specimens from Mr Wales of Dor- 

 chester. 



From Mr Rundle, from his garden in Warren street, 

 Apricots of good size and appearance. 



From Mrs C. H. Jones, from hergarden Nn. 14 Friend 

 street, specimens of Apricots large and hands iine. 



Grapes. — I!e.uitiful specimens of the following kinds 

 were in exhibition by Dr J. C. Howard from Oakland in 

 Brookline; Black Hamburg, Sweetwater, and Miller's 

 Burgundy, all grown under glass. The berries of the 

 laller very large for the kind, the fruit having been 

 thinned while young and small. 



Patches. — The beautiful Peaches which were exhib- 

 ited on Saturday, July 28, were from M. P. Sawyer, 

 Esq. of ihis cily, from his garden in Portland. 

 For the Commillec, 



WILLIAM KENRICK, Chairman. 



The public are cautioned against receiving counter- 

 feit .$•")() of the U. S. Bank, new plate, which have been 

 recently put in circulation. 



Exhibition of Floweks. 



Notwithstanding the extreme heat of the weather and 

 the want of rain, which together have almost burnt up 

 vcetation, our friends decorated our tables with some 

 fine bouquets and choice flowers. 



J. C. Howard, Esq Woodlands, Brookline, exhibited 

 a verv splendid Bouquet. The specimens of the Dahlia 

 in this collection were extra fine for the season. His 

 gardener deserves great praise for the taste displayed in 

 the arrangement of the various flowers, and for the gen- 

 eral eSiect. 



