1871] 



NEW ENGLAND FARIMER. 



359 



say that a drain between three and four feet 

 would give better satisfaction than one be- 

 tween two and three feet deep ; or as we ex- 

 pressed it, "a drain between three and four 

 feet deep will be more permanent than one 

 laid a foot or more less" in depth than three 

 or four feet. 



We have a high respect for the opinions of 

 our correspondent on agricultural matters 

 generally, and particularly in respect to land 

 drainage, as he was brought up in England 

 where this branch of farm improvement has 

 received more attention during the last fifty 

 years, than in any other country with the 

 exception perhaps of a small portion of Ger- 

 many, and as he is now engaged in the prac- 

 tical cultivation of an Illinois farm. Whether 

 he agrees or disagrees with Judge French or 

 others who write for the Farmer, either as 

 correspondents or as editors, Mr. Whatmore's 

 suggestions will be equally acceptable. None 

 of us should forget that in all our association 

 with our fellow men we are both teachers and 

 learners. The good book intimates as much 

 in the declaration that "He that is first in his 

 own cause seemeth just ; but his neighbor 

 Cometh and searcheth him." All of us need 

 "searching," and none perhaps so much as 

 editors. 



CUTTING AND CUBIWa HAY. 

 At a late meeting of the Union Farmers' 

 Club of Lenox, Madison Co., N. Y., the sub- 

 ject of "Cutting and Curing Fodder" was 

 considered. 



Mr. Ralph 11. Avery recommended that 

 clover, especially the small, be cut when about 

 half the blossoms have appeared, but not when 

 we^t, or when the dew is upon the grass. When 

 cut and little wilted, I put it in small cocks 

 with a fork, and there let it remain several — 

 say two or three — days, and then turn the 

 cocks over, and stand a day or two longer. 

 If there has occurred a shower of rain in the 

 time, the cocks being small, it will dry out. 

 Clover cured in this way retains all the leaves 

 and flavor, and will be relished by any kind of 

 stock. AVhen fed in winter to cows they will 

 give nearly as much milk as when at grass, 

 and if kept in a warm stable, as they should 

 be, for calves, colts, sheep or horses, it is a 

 most excellent fodder. My rule for csitting 

 timothy is when, and just when, the first blos- 

 som has fallen and before any appearance of 

 seed. Then cut after the dew is off and grass 

 dry. Cock up when well wilted — not cured 

 to dryness — open the same an hour or so in 



the sun the next day, and then draw in the 

 barn, — the barn to be a snug one, with ventila- 

 tion only through the roof, keeping barn doors 

 always closed, except when obliged to be open 

 while drawing in the hay. If hay has no iva- 

 ter in it, except the juices in the grass, when 

 cut, and is well wilted, and has had a chance 

 to sweat in the cock, and is placed in a snug 

 barn, I have no fear of its being burnt in the 

 mow or from mould, but if cut early, and 

 cured and stored as stated, I am always sure 

 of having hay that my stock like ; my cattle 

 keep in fine condition, hair bright and lively. 

 In addition, I believe a timothy meadow cut 

 thus early, will retain a thicker sod and im- 

 prove, whereas by not cutting the grass until 

 the seed is ripe, on some land the meadow will 

 run out, and the owner be obliged to plough 

 and re-seed ; but by following the system of 

 mowing thus early, and an occasional top- 

 dressing of manure, a meadow will improve 

 and be better from year to year. Medicinal 

 herbs, when cured so as to retain their aroma 

 and virtue as herbs, are always gathered when 

 in flower, and are never dried in the sun. So 

 grasses should be cut when in flower, and cured, 

 so as to retain that fine color and flavor which 

 every intelligent farmer likes as well as his 

 stock does. Any farmer who follows this 

 practice and notices the result, will never 

 again wait for grass to ripen the |eed before 

 cutting, as is too often the practice. 



General Bruce thought early cut grass the 

 best, and in curing it the less sunshine and the 

 most air on it, the better, and that it should 

 be cured before going Into the barn. In re- 

 gard to young grass, he gave it as his opinion 

 that cows liked It the best, and that It brought 

 more milk. 



The discussion having closed, the question 

 of early, medium or late cutting of grass, &c., 

 was put to a vote, when the question was de- 

 cided In favor of early cutting by a liarge ma- 

 jority, a few being In favor of medium, while 

 none were In favor of late. 



At a meeting of the Guilford" (Chenango 

 Co., N. Y.,) Farmers' Club, June 10, the 

 same subject was discussed. 



Mr. Wm. Jewell stated that in the absence 

 of his personal attention in the securing of his 

 last hay crop he had suffered largely, and his 

 stock still worse, and that in the future this 

 must be attended to If much else is neglected, 

 and asked what the amount would be In Guil- 

 ford if the hay crop suffered In value three or 

 four dollars per ton. In being cut too late or 

 improperly secured ? He says It must be cut 

 earl}\ 



Mr. Edward Jewell said he wanted his hay 

 to be put In early, and In a manner that It 

 would heat and press together firmly without 

 any water upon It, or but little sun, and then 

 close the barn and exclude the air as much as 

 possible. In this the chair agreed with him. 



Mr. H. A. Burlison also agreed that It must 

 be cut early, but would like all cocked one 



