1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



329 



badly in the mow. Milch cows fed on early 

 cut hay, give more and richer milk, and the 

 butter comes without trouble. Cures in the 

 old way, but thinks there is as much danger 

 of drying too much as too little. Hay hurts 

 quicker from external moisture than from its 

 own juices. Does not believe in salting hay — 

 it is a positive injury. 



Mr. G. W. Smith said, hay is already a 

 special crop, but it is not admissable to raise 

 it exclusively. Disapproves the practice of 

 mowing until it exhausts the land. Would 

 not mow land longer than it produced a good 

 crop. It is more profitable to raise two tons 

 upon one acre, than the same amount on two 

 acres. Recommends early cutting. We get 

 less in weight, but it is more valuable for stock. 

 It is not possible to cure early cut hay suffi- 

 ciently in one day to save. Clover should be 

 made in the cock as much as possible, thereby 

 saving the leaves, which are the most valuable 

 part. 



Mr. B. Boston said, hay is our main de- 

 pendence. Late cut hay is almost worthless. 

 Began haying last year before there were any 

 blossoms, and never had better hay ; would 

 rather have one-half ton of early cut hay than 

 a ton cut after the seed is made. Cuts clover 

 when two-thirds in blossom ; puts up and lets 

 stand in cock over one day, using caps. 

 Meadow hay requires more drying than any 

 other kind. Most farmers cut their meadows 

 too late. Does not believe in hauling in green 

 grass. Referred to the statement of Mr. J. 

 R. Macomber in Bangor Jeffersonian detail- 

 ing his experience, and recommending the 

 neiv method cf curing hay. He (Mr. Boston) 

 had been informed that a committee appointed 

 by the Glenburn Farmers' Club to examine 

 Mr. Macomber's hay, reported it to be black 

 and smoky unfit for market, and nearly worth- 

 less to feed to stock. 



Mr. S. Y. Luce recommends the use of 

 plaster, and top-dressing with manure. Had 

 learned by experience that hay cut in the blos- 

 som is enough better than that cut after the 

 seed has formed, to pay for cutting. Can dry 

 his hay in two days of good weather sufficient 

 to keep ; would not dry too much ; if neces- 

 sary to get in green would mix old hay or 

 straw with it. 



Mr. E. Clements said, grass should not be 

 cut while the dew is on it. He lakes and puts 

 up his hay while it is hot, opens and gets it in 

 the next day. Put his hay in last year in a 

 greener state than usual. It came out smoky. 

 Thinks it is not practicable to get in the same 

 day it is cut. 



Mr, D. Gilman believed in a mixed hus- 

 bandry, but considered hay the most impor- 

 tant crop to cultivate as a specialty. Since 

 the market for potatoes is overstocked and the 

 prospect so poor, the hay crop is the most 

 promising one we can raise. Hay has been 

 worth in Bangor market $18 per ton at some 

 time in the year for several years past, and is 



worth nearly that for stock. He agreed with 

 others as to early cutting, but thought the 

 proper time depended very much upon the 

 season. One year his grass grew nearly one- 

 half after he began haying. There is as much 

 loss in beginning too early as too late. 



EXTKACTS AND EEPLIES. 



OYSTER SHELLS IN AN ORCHARD, 



S.Fletcher, — Dear Sir.— I have lately taken 

 up one of the one hundred and twenty apple trees 

 that you set out twenty years ago this spring on 

 this place. In doing so I found a quantity of 

 oyster shells about the roots. Some of these 

 shells are but very slightly if at all decomposed. 

 Presuming that you put them there at the time of 

 setting the trees, I wish to inquire your otiject in 

 doing so, and whether you think they have been 

 of any benefit to the trees, or to the soil. 



Winchester, Mass., May 3, 1870. Eli Cooper, 



Remarks. — Oyster shells are composed mostly 

 of carbonate of lime. And as the beneficial effects 

 of this material on the soil of New England is a 

 question on which the doctors disagree, perhaps 

 it may be proper to publish the above inquiry, 

 though probably intended as a personal question. 



While hauling some ashes from the village to be 

 used as a compost for this orchard, which was set 

 out in the spring of 1850, a pile of oyster shells 

 and other rubbish in a back yard was offered ®n 

 condition that I would take it away. As individ- 

 uals in whose judgment I relied, said they thought 

 it might help the trees, I applied several loads to 

 the orchard. The shells which were on or near 

 the surface soon crumbled and disappeared. For 

 some eight or ten years the trees grew as well as 

 any I ever saw. But a few years before you 

 bought the farm, this orchard, in common with 

 orchards generally in the vicinity, gave evidence 

 that something was the matter with the trees. 

 Old orchards ceased bearing, and young ones did 

 not begin. I do not think the few shells applied 

 did any harm ; nor am I sure they did much good. 

 I experimented with ordinary lime on different 

 crops, but without being able to see any result, 

 either good or bad. My opinion is that both oyster 

 shells and ordinary lime are pretty slim "manure" 

 in New England, however useful they may be at 

 the South or in old England, where an occasional 

 liming is considered essential in high farming. 

 The opinion expressed in the Farmer some time 

 since by Dr. Nichols, that carbonate of lime, 

 whether in the form of oyster shells or chips of 

 marble, is worthless, is controverted by a corres- 

 pondent on page 320 of this issue. s. f. 



nrsTY hay. 

 Can you or some of your subscribers give me a 

 little light on this subject ? Last summer I filled 

 my barn with hay and cured it in the usual man- 

 ner; the most of it was cured without being wet. 

 I kept the windows open in both galjle ends, and 

 the great doors, also, until cold weather. When 

 I commenced to use it in December it was dusty, 

 and has continued to grow worse and worse through 



