Recent Improvements in Haymaking. 
made with us further south, unk^ss similar modes of action were 
adoj)ted. 
Rainy Days. Fall of Rain. 
June. July. August. June. July. August. 
18()0 .. ..21) 8 18 5-«5 4-87 5-35 
18(il .. .. 11 22 28 2-45 O-Sf) 13-00 
The register for August is also quoted, because th(> swampy 
flooded meadows are chiefly " made " in that month : in the two 
former months it is the " seed-hay " which is mostly saved. The 
successful plan, says he, in this dripping climate is to put it into 
small " coils " after being shaken out a little, each about the size of 
a beehive, and then with a sweep of the hand the tails are gathered 
under it, so that it gets the shape of an egg standing on the large 
end. After one or two days, according to the weather, every 
two are made into one, care being taken to put the surface of the 
old in the bottom and heart of the new coil ; they thus remain 
till made into " tramp coles," containing 50 to 60 stone. Colour, 
scent, and juice are preserved much better than by spreading ; 
and it is thus constantly protected against water. Here the 
old adage, " Make hay while the sun shines " is hardly applic- 
able: but sun and light, though powerful agents for dissipating 
the natural sap, might be dispensed with. Aeration is indis- 
pensable. Bleaching has to be guarded against, by keeping the 
grass in small cocks repeatedly turned, and little spread out. In a 
succession of rainy days we do not turn swathe, because the upper 
portion has become impervious to rain. When it does dry up, 
turn no more than can be cocked. The juice, flavour, and colour 
are the great points to preserve : it is important to preserve the 
green matter of the leaves {^chloropJiylT). Therefore the action of 
the sun's rays are to be provided against — the preservation of 
flowers in green beauty, by bibulous paper, pressed hard down 
and repeatedly changed, but in the dark, suggests a caution 
against injudicious broadcasting to the sun's rays. 
The preservation of seed-hay is effected in a most complete 
manner. After standing a day or two in the stook, it is stored 
in stacks containing some 24 to 36 sheaves, which, if made by a 
practised hand, are quite impervious to rain. The dexterity 
with which this simple operation is performed exceeds belief : 
it often happens that a rain-cloud may be seen pouring down its 
water in the distant horizon, but ere it arrives on the zenith of 
the observant husbandman, several acres of his hay-seed are 
already in the field stack. Thus it is saved, by being stormed, as 
the local phrase well expresses it. 
February, 1862. 
