1889 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
33S 
HAY. 
(Continued from Page 330.) 
average. Stable manure aud land plaster 
are our only fertilizers. 
5. We bave tried no new grasses or substi¬ 
tutes therefor here of late. 
6 . The productiveness of our meadows can, 
I think, be best increased ny a judicious rota¬ 
tion of crops and a liberal uie of stable man¬ 
ure. My own rotation is: 1, Corn on sod, 
manured; 2 , oats or wheat, with grass and 
clovor seed; hay for one or two years, accord¬ 
ing to the stand secured and the condition of 
the meadow. Some neighbors follow about 
the same rotation, manuring the grass instead 
of the corn. They leave the meadow two years 
and put on manure the first fall after seeding. 
Permanent meadows are not, as a rule, a suc¬ 
cess here, though I bave seen a meadow on 
low bottom land seeded to Red-top and Alsike 
clover, which had done well for several years. 
Brillion. e. g. f. 
FROM VERMONT. 
1. Timothy is sown for bay here as a rule; 
though some sow Red-top with Red and Al¬ 
sike clover. The early cutting of grass is 
favored, as the bay makes better feed for 
cows and young stock and the land does not 
run out so soon. 
2. The Buckeye, Granite State, Bradley, 
Champion and Wood mowing machines are 
used, and the Champion and Tiger rakes.and 
the Mudgett and Thomas tedders. 
3. On river farms meadows are reseeded 
about once in six years, in the spring, with 
oats or barley; our bill farms do not require 
seeding so often. 
4. Probably \\i ton per acre. Stable manure 
is used. Few have tried commercial fertili¬ 
zers for grass. 
5. No new grasses have been tried here in 
recent years. 
G. Many of our best farmers practice top¬ 
dressing in the fall. 
Warren. F. H. M. 
Timothy and clover are the principal grasses 
grown in this section for hay, though Red- 
top and Orchard grass are raised to a consid¬ 
erable extent. I favor early cutting, for the 
reason that much better results are obtained 
from feeding the hay, because, as I think, the 
fresh spring grass is nearer to a perfect food 
than anything we can get, and for this reason 
farmers should strive to have their hay re¬ 
semble, as closely as possible, dried green 
grass. I think that, on an average, I seed 
down once in five or six years, but this de¬ 
pends largely upon circumstances. In certain 
soils, with favorable seasons, large crops of 
hay may be grown for a much longer time 
with a light top-dressing of manure once in 
two or three years. I prefer to seed with 
wheat when seeding with grain: but for sev¬ 
eral years I have plowed in August, harrowed 
in manure aud seeded without grain, and I 
have never failed to cut a heavy crop the first 
season. My average yield for several years 
has been more than two tons per acre. I use 
barn-yard manure principally, though I think 
commercial fertilizers can be used profitably 
for grass. I have not tried any new grasses 
or substitutes recently. The best way, in my 
opinion, to increase the productiveness of the 
meadows, is to give thorough cultivation of 
the soil, plenty of manure, and plenty of grass 
seed. Many farmers sow too little seed when 
seeding down. I would rather sow one 
bushel of Timothy and two bushels of Red-top 
per acre, than a smaller quantity, as the 
extra yield of hay will many times more than 
pay for the extra seed. I think more atten¬ 
tion is now' paid to the grass crop in this seo- 
tion than was formerly. Farmers must be 
governed, to a certain extent, by the charac¬ 
ter of their soil in growing the grass crop, 
just as in the case of other crops. F. e. l. 
North Fomfret. 
1. Timothy, Rod-top and Red and Alsike 
clovers are generally used here for hay, and 
on our river bottom lands Timothy, Red-top, 
Fowl Meadow and Alsike. We cut early for 
hay for all kinds of stock except horses. 
Early-cut hay is more easily digested and 
assimilated, but more liable to be dusty, and 
therefore injurious to horses. The precise 
time to cut hay so that it will be most valu¬ 
able is just when the grass is out of bloom; 
but it changes rapidly from that state, and 
practically I am compelled to begin cutting 
when it is at an earlier stage. 
2 . Tho list of haying tools, especially of 
mowers and horse-rakes, is too long to men¬ 
tion all, I use Walter A. Woods mowers aud 
rakes, a Bullard tedder, a Keystone hay- 
loader, and a double harpoon horse-fork. 
3. I usually re-seed once in five or six years. 
My usual rotation for heavy clay soils is peas 
and oats on greensward; next, barley and 
grass seed, followed by clover and Timothy. 
I use large Northern clover and Timothy for 
renovating heavy clay soils, with Red-top 
added on moist lands. For loam lands my 
rotation is, first, corn, followed by barley 
and grass seed, Medium and Alsike clover, 
Timothy and Red-top. I use peas freely as a 
first crop, because they are rich in both plant 
and stock food, and they leave the soil in ex¬ 
cellent condition for succeeding crops. I sow 
oats with them because they are excellent 
stock food, and hold up the peas so that they 
can be harvested by horse-power. They are 
a somewhat exhausting crop, and for this 
reason not especially fitted for renovating 
purposes. The same maybe said of barley; 
but both are excellent for stock food, and the 
latter is well adapted for use in connection 
with grass seed. I formerly used wheat with 
grass seed, but its low market value at the 
present time prevents its being profitably ex¬ 
changed for stock food, and no New England 
farmer can afford to sell grain except in the 
way of such an exchange. The clover crop is 
my chief reliance m the way of renovation. 
4. The average yield per acre of peas and 
oats, on large fields of green-sward is from 25 
to 40 bushels; of barley from 20 to 40bushels. 
In one case I had an average of 43 bushels of 
Imperial barley on a field of 13 acres of heavy, 
clay soil. Clover (large Northern) ’averages 
from two to three tons per acre. This will be 
followed after two or three years by Timothy, 
and when the yield is less than 1 ton per 
acre, I plow, and repeat the rotation. I 
never use large Northern clover on a rich loam 
soil. In such cases there is liable to be an 
overgrowth, and consequently poor quality. 
5. No new varieties have been introduced 
that I am aware of, since the introduction of 
Alsike clover, and Orchard grass. The former 
1 have used successfully tor the last 20 years. 
I have not made a success of the latter. It is 
quite too “smart” for me, and, besides.it 
does not produce enough seed, and it costs too 
much to purchase the latter. 
6 . By plowing, and the use of some rotation 
like the one I have pointed out, we can supply 
ourselves with grain, while raising a larger 
aggregate amouut of hay, and at the same 
time producing a rapid increase of fertility, 
provided always that the plant food produced 
or its equivalent is returned to the soil. The 
plow may be used with ruinous effect upon the 
farm and the farmer’s hopes of success, but 
when judiciously used, in connection with an 
intelligent system, it is the most important 
agent in the work ot crop production, and 
farm improvement. F. d. d. 
Whiting. 
1. The grasses, including clover, in'this sec¬ 
tion, are about as follows: Herd’s grass or 
Timothy is the principal kind raised, and 
Red-top comes next. Only a few have sown 
Orchard grass, and at present I do not know 
of any field of it. It is liable to winter-kill. 
June grass is plentiful in all our grass fields, 
but seed is not sown often. A few have sown 
Meadow Fescue with good results. Red, com¬ 
mon, and Mammoth clovers are sown freely, 
and Alsike is becoming quite common and is 
much esteemed. I favor cutting the grasses 
early. Early-cut hay produces, I think, bet¬ 
ter results in milk flow than late-cut. I con¬ 
sider late-cut Herd’s grass a very poor feed 
for milk. A mixture of Alsike and other 
clover with Red-top and Herd’s grass cut 
early is, in my opinion, the best for winter 
dairying. 
2. Nearly all the mowing machines in the 
market are used here; but I think the Buck¬ 
eye leads. The latest improved kinds of 
horse-rakes are in use by most hay-makers. 
Tedders aro coming into use a good deal. 
These with the common drag rake, and im¬ 
proved pitch-forks and hand-scythes complete 
the list of tools in use. 
3. I generally seed down after taking" off 
three grass crops; corn or other crops follow, 
breaking up the sod. The old way of seeding 
was to sow the grass seed with an oat or 
wheat crop in the spring,and generally a good 
grass crop followed; but of late years I have 
seeded down to grass in the corn field, with 
level culture of the corn crop. This is a good 
way. I sow the seed from about the middle 
of July to the middle of August, going 
through every row. At this time the corn is 
in transition from the silk to the milky state. 
A cultivator is run through and the ground 
is raked over, after which the seed is sown. 
The ground is shaded so that seed rarely fails 
to germinate. Grass seed is frequently sown 
on winter grain fields. The average yield per 
acre on my farm, including rowen, is slightly 
over two tons per acre; but the crops on mauy 
farms in town will not exceed a ton to the 
acre. In the whole .town an estimate of.l 1-2 
ton would not be far out of the way for an 
average yield per acre. All kinds of manure 
are used; special fertilizers are used to a great 
extent in connection with barn manure. 
The new grasses are not much used here. 
I have sown Meadow Fescue on several occa¬ 
sions and my experience is that it makes an 
excellent hay, very good for winter dairying 
if cut early, and it is very hardy and will 
hold out longer than most other grasses. 
6 . I know of no better way to increase pro¬ 
ductiveness than to plow up, manure heavily 
and seed down in the corn field. One of my 
neighbors has increased his grass crop great¬ 
ly by top-dressing in the fall, and last year 
his whole mowing fields produced two crops 
of nearly three tons per acre. 
* South Randolph. c. G. p. 
FROM NEW YORK. 
1. Timothy and clover: Timothy for the 
Troy market where it brings from 80 cents to 
$1 per 100 pounds according to the supply. 
Most emphatically I favor early cutting, as 
soon as Timothy is all headed out, and as soon 
as clover is in full bloom. Early-cut Timothy 
will sell for 10 or 15 cents more per 100 pounds 
than late-cut. Ripe Timothy is not much 
better for feeding than oat straw. 
2. We use the various mowers that are in 
the market, and wheel-rakes, and some use 
hay-tedders, but I do not use one myself, as I 
think such implements break up the hay too 
much. Various horse-forks and hay carriers 
are also used. 
3. We re-seed about every three years, with 
rye usually, sowing Timothy seed in the fall 
and clover in the spring. 
4. From two to three tons per acre. Com¬ 
mercial fertilizers are mostly used. They are 
sown with a drill when the grain is sown. 
5. A few are trying or going to try Alfal¬ 
fa. I have not had time to note with what 
success. 
6 . More manure in almost any form -will 
help to produce larger crops. a. h. s. 
Melrose. 
1. Red Clover (both large and medium) 
and Timothy. As hay is largely the money 
crop here with many farmers, Timothy leads. 
Wo cut clover when it is in full bloom; Timo¬ 
thy as soon as the bloom falls, because the 
quality is then at its best, and, I think, the 
weight of bay is greatest. 
2. Many styles of mowers and steel-tooth 
horse-rakes are used, but very few loaders or 
tedders. The hay is stored in barns as soon 
as possible with a double harpoon horse-fork, 
hay carrier and tackle. Fowler’s cars and 
many other good kinds are in use. The hay 
is pressed by the buyer, by means of the Ded- 
erick perpetual steam or two-horse press. 
3. We seed with the second or third crops 
(oats or fall grain) after breaking sod. We 
sow 10 to 12 quarts—one part clover, two 
parts Timothy—with oats, Timothy with fall 
grain; clover in spring, same proportion, 
and we usually mow three or four seasons. 
4. About one ton. We use^but little manure, 
except what is applied when seeding with 
wheat—mostly barn-yard with some phos¬ 
phates. 
5. We have lately tried Alsike with indif¬ 
ferent success. It 'does not seem to thrive 
here as in’some localities. 
G. The productiveness of meadows can be 
improved by the use of more barn-yard ma¬ 
nure and ashes. No stock should be allowed 
to pasture on meadows before or after cut¬ 
ting. A gradual increase should be made in 
the depth of plowing, but not in alt] of our 
soils. f. d. s. 
Ithaca. 
1. The principal meadow grasses grown in 
this section are common Timothy, Red clover 
and Orchard grass. Occasionally we find a 
little Red-top amt English Blue grass, but not 
in large quantities. Orchard grass is not 
grown as much as formerly. Early cut grass 
I consider the best for hay, as it will be less 
wiry, more nutritious and more easily masti¬ 
cated and digested. 
2. Nearly all of the improved mowing ma¬ 
chines are in use here. Hay tedders are also 
in general use. The Thomas takes the lead. 
The principal rakes used are the Bradley, 
Thomas, Tiger and Buckeye. The Keystone 
bay-loader has been used, but does not give 
general satisfaction, it being better adapted 
to the prairie farms of the West. The har¬ 
poon hay fork is the best. 
3. On gravelly land we re-seed 'once in four 
or five years; on low land or muck, once in 
five or six years. We seed with oats or 
wheat. Early spring is generally the best 
time, aslthe stand is not so apt to winter-kill 
as that from late or fall-sown seed. 
4. "The avorage’yield is about IX ton per 
acre. Cow or any kind of well rotted manure 
is used in top-dressing newly-seeded laud. 
Commercial”fertilizers are used in seeding, 
but very little as a top-dressing. 
5. Some are experimenting with Alfalfa. 
It has not been long enough in use to warrant 
a report on the result. 
” 6 . 5 ] To increase the productiveness, do not 
pasture the meadows; plow as otten as needed, 
and keep up a good crop. The more manure 
that is placed on the land, the better: but we 
are sadly limited in this repect. Very few 
farms produce manure enough to keep the 
meadows in proper shape. Can commercial 
fertilizers be profitably used as a top dressing 
on meadows? c. h. f. 
Forestville. 
1. Clover and Timothy with some Orchard 
grass and Alsike clover make good hay, if put 
on rich, moist land. I favor early-cut hay 
every time, because it has more nutriment 
and will make cows give more milk and that 
is what we want in old Chautauqua county. 
2 . I intend to seed down every third year 
either with oats or wheat—oats in the spring; 
wheat in the fall—to Timothy and sow the 
clover early the next spring. 
3. The average yield per acre is about 
“two tons on our best farms;” IX on the 
poorer ones. The yield depends a good deal 
on the owner of the farm. 
5. No new grasses are being tried in this 
locality. 
6 . When the land is under the plow give 
thorough cultivation, forming a perfect seed¬ 
bed. Save all the barn-yard manures and apply 
it as soon as made 'and, when enough cannot 
be secured, make a judicious use of commer¬ 
cial fertilizer. Be sure to find out what your 
soil lacks first, and then apply that which will 
fill the need. Keep stock off the meadows at all 
times of the year. A man who fails of success 
after practicing these rules had better quit 
farming, but I don’t believe in using much 
commercial fertilizer, for the crops ought to 
be all fed on the farm and help to make it 
more and more productive. p. l. d. 
Cherry’Creek. 
The acreage devoted to hay on the average 
hay farm is over three-fourths of its area. 
The remainder of the farm is devoted to grain 
crops. As the old meadows “run out” or fail 
to produce paying crops, the ground is plowed 
and sowed to some grain crop. With this 
grain, Timothy and clover seeds are sown in 
about equal parts at the rate of six to eight 
quarts to the acre. Some, in their haste to 
get first-quality hay, are foolish enough to 
sow Timothy alone ; but this practice is not 
general. The length of time a field will pro¬ 
duce hay without re-seeding will vary with 
the original fertility of the soil and with the 
quantity of fertilizers or manure applied. One 
field that I know of has been mown for 15 
successive years, and year after year has pro¬ 
duced over one ton per acre without manure 
of any kind. The average yield for this 
vicinity, taken altogether, has not been over 
three-fourths of a ton per acre for the last 
two years. 
Among the improved tools used may be 
mentioned the five and six-foot-cut mowing 
machine, the self-dump horse-rake, and, 
last but not least, the horse-fork with a carrier 
running on either a wooden or iron track. 
This makes it possible for the farmer to util¬ 
ize all the space in his high barn with less 
help; besides, the hay can be unloaded much 
more quickly than by hand. 
A large portion of the hay is sold in the fall 
and early winter, the purchaser sending a 
portable press to the farmer’s barn with teams 
and hands. The farmer boards'the men and 
beasts and hauls the hay to the nearest rail¬ 
road station. Many claim that the extra ease 
in handling and hauling pays for the'board of 
teams and men. The distance from market 
probably determines the most profitable way. 
To tell how fast the yield of hay is dimin¬ 
ishing would be well-nigh impossible. A 
good indication that there is a decrease may 
be found in the remarks of the many who say: 
“Farming don’t pay!” “Our land is”not 
what it used to be;” “ About half a crop this 
year and the sod looks as if there wouldn’t be 
any next.” These are the men" who.' have 
sold their soil at one-half cent per pound and 
are now mourning over the barren fields. 
c. c. 
FROM INDIAN TERRITORY. 
1. The only tame' grass grown for hay in 
our country is German millet. A few of my 
neighbors, like myself, have experimented 
somewhat with 'clover and Timothy, but I 
think without success I know that I made a 
failure, owing, I £ think,* to dry seasons and 
ignorance as to the time to sow, and the man¬ 
ner of seeding down. I sowed one bushel of 
Alfalfa two years ago. The first’'season T it 
barely caught in spots; last year the weeds 
took the lana so that what remained could 
not do much better. I "pastured some year¬ 
lings in the field all’the past winter. This 
spring I see the Alfalfa is spreading and I 
will fence off about £two acres along with 
three acres of prairie grass, for a calf aud 
sheep pasture. I believe pasturing will cause 
