IRMER 



DJiJVOTiJD TO AG-RECITLTTJRE, HORTICULTUHE, AJSTD KIN DEED ARTS. 



NEAV SERIES. 



Boston, August, 187 1. 



VOL. v.— yo. 8. 



R. P. EATON & CO., PuRLrsHiRS, 

 Office, 34 Merchants' Hov. 



MONTHLY. 



SIMOX BROWN, ; j.„,„o_, 

 S. FLETCHER, ( -f^piTORS. 



THS DROUGHT AND THE GRASSES. 

 EUY protracted is the 

 drought which now pre- 

 vails throughout this part 

 the country. A drought, not 

 sa -''i^ ^^^y ^^ ^^'^ present year, but the 

 & '^'^r°continuation of one that commenced 

 last summer, extended through the 

 entire winter, the late spring, and 

 DOW, in the last of July, is seriously affecting 

 the crops. 



This long-continued drought has materially 

 affected the present grass crop. The roots of 

 the best grasses have propably been destroyed, 

 or greatly injured for the want of moisture, 

 and from exposure during the last winter. The 

 result is that hardy weeds have taken the place 

 of clover, of timothy, redtop, and other valu- 

 able grasses, and a large portion of our fields 

 are crowded with sorrel, white weed, dock- 

 weed, and other worthless plants. We have 

 never before known the fields to present such 

 a poverty-stricken condition. On grounds 

 that were sown with grass seed with the grain, 

 last year, the drought killed the young grass, 

 so that all sorts of rubbish and trash is tri- 

 umphant, — the sorrel and whiteweed prevail- 

 ing over all the rest. 



Under these circumstances it becomes the 

 farmer to commence cutting the grass early, 

 before the weeds perfect their seeds, and to 

 afford opportunity for obtaining a second crop 

 of grass on lands that are sufficiently moist 



and rich to bring it. He can greatly promote 

 his interests in this particular, by employing 

 the excellent 



Haying Implements and Machines, 



which are now introduced all over Xew Eng- 

 land. 



The old hand scythe will never go out of 

 date. It is indispensable, in most fields, near 

 fences, around trees, and sometimes, where 

 clover or grass is lodged, in open places. 



There are now various patterns of the mow- 

 ing machine. Most of them are so perfected 

 as to cut one acre in an hour, as an average, 

 and cut the grass well. This can be done with 

 ease by two horses, and leave the driver suffi- 

 ciently fresh to engage at once in tending the 

 crop. On grounds that are smooth, there is 

 little danger of accident in their use, and if 

 taken care of properly, a machine will last for 

 many years. It should always be housed 

 when not in use. 



In order to push the haying along at the 

 most rapid rate, the Teddeu (from the word 

 ted, to spread or turn, as Milton says, "The 

 smell of grain or icdded grass") should at once 

 follow the mowing machine. This machine 

 has not yet come into general use, but is gain- 

 ing popularity as its merits are better known. 

 It is not uncommon in the haying season to 

 have sudden showers in the middle of the day. 

 Large quantities of hay are wet by these 

 showers when it is in complete condition to go 



