Summer — July. 293 
in connexion with labor early in the morning and late in the 
evening, then the work should be so planned that it may be ac- 
complished before night. The last hour's work, when the damp- 
ness of evening begins to collect upon the hay, is the least profita- 
ble of any. 
The proper time of cutting grass is a matter upon which, among 
the best of farmers, a diversity of opinion prevails. Clover, it is 
believed, should be cut when the flower first begins to fade. In 
respect to timothy grass it is a debateable point whether it shall be 
cut in the flower, or when the seed is formed and almost ripened. 
For market, the greener the color of the hay, provided it is sweet, 
the better it sells. According to the analytical experiments of 
Sinclair, the nearer it approaches to ripeness, the more nutricious 
matter it contains. We are of opinion, however, that a jury of 
cattle would be much more conclusive and satisfactory. 
Sundry modes have been suggested for the curing of clover hay, 
No grass in our humble opinion, suffers greater deterioratioa 
from excessive drying and much stirring and tossing about. Our 
practice, and which of course we think the best, has been not to 
spread clover, but simply to turn the swarth after the top is wilted, 
and in the afternoon of the day on which it is cut, put it carefully 
into small cocks and let it remain until it is sufficiently cured to 
carry to the barn. When this is to be done, the cocks should be 
turned over, so that any moisture, which may be at the bottom of 
them, may be dried off. Cured in this way it comes out perfectly 
bright and sweet, the leaves and blossoms remain on, and we 
value it more than any other grass for our sheep and cattle. 
Procure a good scythe for every man and boy on the farm who 
is to do any thing at mowing. This work is hard enough with 
the best implements that can be made. When the tool is poor, 
the work must be done either poorly or slowly, and in either case 
the farmer is losing more than the cost of the instrument. It is 
the practice of some to put the cast off scythe in the hands of the 
boy, who is learning to mow; this should not be done. He wants 
and should have, in his feeble and unpractised hand, a sharper 
edge than is required by the man. We say give him a good and 
a light tool, or else excuse him from this work. 
All kinds of grain should, whenever practicable, in every in- 
stance, be cut before it becomes dead ripe, and for these reasons: 
