THE CULTIVATOR. 
July. 
flotcs for % Hinttlj. 
Best Time to Cut Grass and the Best Mode 
op Curing Hay. —This is a subject of greater impor¬ 
tance than many farmers suppose, for there can be no 
doubt that there is frequently a loss of one half in the 
value of hay, by errors and carelessness in this res¬ 
pect. The remarks of our correspondent, J. H. H., 
(see p. 221 and 282,) on early cutting grass, have call¬ 
ed out several communications, which we shall soon 
give to our readers, and we anticipate that much light 
will be thrown upon the subject before the discussion 
closes. The remarks of our friend John Johnston in 
this number, will not fail to attract attention, and to be 
read with the interest due to a farmer of his careful 
observation and long experience. In connection with 
this subject, and particularly in reference to the sweat¬ 
ing process recommended by Mr. Johnston, we quote 
the following description of the mode of curing hay in 
Bavaria, as given by Prof. S. W. Johnson in one of his 
letters from Germany, published in this paper in 1854. 
Prof. J. says: 
On account of the variability of the weather, a peculiar 
method of curing hay is practiced. One observes nume 
rous little log barns fifteen by twenty feet square and ten 
feet high, scattered over the lower Alps. I have counted 
over one hundred of them from a single position, and they 
communicate a singular effect to the landscape, as their 
roofs, in common with those of all the peasants’ buildings, 
are thickly overlaid with large stones. Into these shan¬ 
ties the hay is thrown while half dry, and thoroughly 
trodden down. It shortly ferments, and the hay becomes 
dark brown in color, and forms a quite solid mass, which 
may be cut out with a spade. Prof. Fraas, of the Munich 
University, says in his Principles of Agriculture, that this 
so called “ brown hay is as good for cattle as ordinary hay; 
it is in fact preferred by them, and appears to be more 
nourishing.” 
Stephens in his Parmer’s Guide, says that in Saxony, 
the grass cut during the day is put into large cocks 
late during the same afternoon, when a strong fermen¬ 
tation ensues, and continues through the night. In the 
morning, when the cocks will be found very much con¬ 
tracted, it is spread out to dry, and by afternoon is suf¬ 
ficiently cured to be stacked. In this way the hay is 
thoroughly “sweated,” but the process in this country 
would not be a safe one, as should the weather be such 
as to prevent the spreading and drying on the second 
day, the rapid fermentation would ruin the hay. 
The Cyclopedia of Agriculture also says that “it is 
a commonly received opinion, that hay made from good 
land, and thoroughly heated in the stack , is conducive 
to the rapid fattening of cattle—the criterion with old 
fashioned farmers, being the sticky or glutinous mat¬ 
ter left on the fingers during the operation of cutting 
the stack.” 
Albany Co. Ag. Society. —The Premium List and 
Regulations for the next fair of this Society—to be held 
at the Washington Parade Ground in this city, Sept. 
21—24, have been issued in a handsome pamphlet. If 
the farmers of this county would do justice to them¬ 
selves, they would make this the best county exhibition 
in the State. They have the material, and only need 
the energy and ambition to bring it forward. 
English White Kidney Beans. —In this number 
will be found a valuable paper from Mr. Ho watt, on 
the Culture of the Bean, from which it will be seen 
that he prefers the large English white kidney to any 
other variety, for field culture, and that besides being 
more productive, it brings a better price in the New- 
York market than the smaller varieties, a fact of 
which we were not before aware. Indeed we had sup¬ 
posed that the smaller varieties were preferred for 
cooking; but having received a bushel of the White 
Kidney from Mr. Howatt, for which he will accept our 
thanks, we have tried them, and concur with him in 
his estimate of their qualities. 
Mowing with a Machine. —Mr. Carlos Stebbins 
of Pike, N. Y., informs us that he bought a mowing 
machine four years ago, with which he has, in the four 
years, cut 600 acres of grass, at a total expense, in¬ 
cluding the purchase and repairs of the machine, inte¬ 
rest, labor, &c., of $343.80—from this deduct $75, the 
present value of his machine, and we have the sum of 
$268 80 as the actual cost of cutting 600 acres. To 
have performed the same work with the scythe, would 
according to Mr. S.’s estimate, have cost him $668, 
leaving a balance of $399.20. The machine was one 
of Ketchum’s patent, and the whole expense for repairs 
in the four years, including time spent in making them 
and cash paid, was only $5.10. 
fpgT" Mr. Samuel Sands, who has been connected 
with the American Farmer , published in Baltimore 
for about twenty-five years, has disposed of his inter¬ 
est in it, to his late partner, Mr. N. B. Worthington, 
by whom it will hereafter be conducted and published. 
The Farmer attained a high reputation while under the 
charge of Mr. Sands, and we regret his retirement from 
the corps of which he has been so long a member and 
which he so highly honored. 
Farming without Live Stock. —Theoretical farm¬ 
ers have some times attempted to carry out a system 
of grain growing exclusively, expecting to keep up the 
fertility of the soil by turning under green crops and 
the use of commercial manures. All, however, fail 
(after a greater or less interval,) as soon as the soil 
becomes exhausted of elements to be stimulated. A 
mixed husbandry alone can sustain itself without ulti¬ 
mate exhaustion. 
Preservation op Fresh Fruit in Cans. —We have 
several inquiries on this subject, and shall be greatly 
obliged to any one of our friends who will furnish us 
the necessary directions to enable our readers to pre¬ 
serve fresh fruits in cans or jars. 
“ Double Duke.” —The famous Short-Horn bull 
“ Double Duke,” bred by Col. Sherwood, has just 
been sold by C. P. Wood of Auburn, to Mr. P. Sted- 
man of Chicopee, Mass. Mr. S., who passed through 
this city with the bull last week, informs us that he 
bought him for an association of farmers in his neigh¬ 
borhood, all of whom, we doubt not, will be well pleas¬ 
ed with him, as he is an animal of good pedigree and 
great substance, and cannot fail to make his mark on 
the stock of Hampshire and Hampden. 
Objections to Draining. —A correspondent of the 
N. E . Farmer , objects to draining, that “It is ex¬ 
haustive—it adds nothing to the soil. It is not a fer¬ 
tilizer,” and he is especially down on the statement 
that “ It hastens the decay of roots and other vegeta¬ 
ble matter” in the soil, calling it a fact “far more en¬ 
couraging to the race of farm-skinners, than to those 
who wish to improve the soil. * * An apparent im¬ 
provement in crops may for a time be ascribed to drain¬ 
age, which should be credited to the gradual impover¬ 
ishment of the soil consequent on this very decay of 
