Слике страница
PDF
ePub

reception, and that every attention has been paid to the manuring of the grasses resulting, and the eradication of the weeds which will be sure, in a greater or less degree, to infest them, we come now to consider the first of the points connected with the process of haymaking; and that is the cutting of the grass. And in connexion with this, the two points are before us-first, the period at which the grasses should be cut, and, second, the mode in which the grasses should be cut. And, first, as to the period. All good authorities agree that grasses should not be allowed to be uncut till the seeds are matured; the best period is when they are in full flower. Unfortunately, all grasses in mixed meadows are not in flower at the same time, but the nearest approach to an average should be carefully arrived at. Very frequently, when the meadow grasses are at their best stage for cutting, the farmer fancies or believes that the crop is light, and that a further growth will greatly benefit it; but it may be taken as an axiom that further growth will deteriorate rather than increase the value of the crop. As soon as the grasses have seeded, each day's further growth only tends to bring about a change in their nature, which is to be, if possible, avoided. When a plant seeds, the whole, or nearly the whole, of its vigour is given to perfect the seed to the loss of the fibre of the stalk and leaves; and as in hay the very opposite result to that which, in the case of corn, is aimed at, we ought to cut the grasses of which it is composed at that stage in which the nutritive juices are in the stalk and leaves, and before they go into the seed. As before stated, the times of flowering of the plants vary; and, further, we find that some plants permit of a longer period of growth without deterioration of the value of the stalk and leaves than others. Thus, in the case of perennial or ordinary ryegrass (Lolium perenne) we may allow it to remain uncut till it produces the flowers, while in the case of Italian ryegrass (Lolium italicum) it uld be cut as soon as the flowers appear and for this reason, that this grass is so fast a grower, that the stage of deterioration of the leaves and stalk is very rapidly reached after

flowering; while, moreover, another condition comes into play in view of this fast-growing faculty-namely, that succeeding cuttings may be obtained in the same season if the first crop is taken off, where it is grown specially or alone. Further, we find that clover may be best cut when the flowers are in full blossom.

the

We have said that the period of cutting grasses materially influences the nutriquality of the hay procured from Thus, let us take the case of clover

tive

it.

(red).

At

Dr Wolff found clover, cut while beginning to flower on the 11th of June, yielded of nutritive substances 55.43 per cent. ; while cut in full flower on the 25th of June, only 46.07 per cent. This result does not bear out what we have above statednamely, that the best time to cut clover is when in full flower; yet another experiment made on Alsike clover does bear it out, for the result was in favour of the sample cut in full flower. But the truth is, that we have yet a good deal to learn on the subject. present we only reason from analogy in favour of cutting grasses before they mature their seed. We are in want of much trustworthy evidence as to the exact influence upon the nutritive properties of grasses according to the time during which they are allowed to grow. Some experiments we have go to shew that-in the case of some grasses at least-the hay is the most valuable when the seeds are ripe; thus, in the case of two specimens of Cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata), the amount of nutritive principles in the grass, cut when coming into flower, was 18.30 per cent., while in the case of the specimen cut when the seeds were fully ripe, the amount of nutritive matter had increased to 24.38 per cent. But, as stated above, we have much yet to learn in connexion with these points, and it would be well if our Agricultural Societies would direct their attention to the matter. Their interests would not suffer, while those of the farming community would be greatly advanced, if a little of the money and the time which they give to other matters, not a whit more important, were given to this. It is, to say the least of it, a

curiously suggestive circumstance, that our Societies, almost without exception, give the most of their attention and distribute the largest amount of their prizes to stock, while no attention and no money is given, or if given, given only at rare intervals and with a grudging hand, to the food and the modes of producing it with which the stock are fed. A few words as to the mode by which the grasses are cut when ready. Up to a comparatively recent date, the scythe was the only implement employed; but now, mowing machines compete, and compete successfully, with it. So superior indeed is the mowing machine, not only in view of the work which it does, but also with respect to the rapidity with which it does that work, that we have no hesitation in saying that it will be worth the best consideration of the farmer who now uses the scythe to allow it, and at once, to be superseded by the mowing machine, only bearing in mind this word of warning-let the machine be a good one.

But to return to the subject, if the grasses are cut too late, and the seeds allowed thoroughly to ripen, then the fibres become of a woody character, and the hay will be found comparatively valueless as a truly nourishing food; hence, as above stated, the middle point between these two extremes will be found to be the best. Although it may be said, and said truly enough, that there is not the same inducement to obtain the finest quality of hay as there is to obtain the finest quality of other crops of the farm, inasmuch as there is not the same difference between the price of good and comparatively bad hay as there is between good and bad corn; still, as the principle holds good in this department as in other departments, that which is worth doing at all is worth doing well, it is, or ought to be, the aim of the farmer to get his hay saved in the best possible manner. To judge, however, from the slovenly, careless, happy-golucky way in which haymaking is carried on in some districts, we would be very apt to believe that this is not the aim of the farmer at all. It is an axiom in haymaking, that the quicker the hay is made the better, consistent with certain results which must be

attained, these results being indicated by the clear green colour-pale rather than darkand the glossy texture of the stalks, and a certain condition of dryness, which last point is perhaps best ascertained by taking a handful of the hay and applying it to the face. This test we have found enables one to ascertain with considerable accuracy its hygrometric condition, and to know whether the hay is dry enough. Now, let us contrast the axiom named above, and the conditions of the hay which shew that the points indicated by it have been attained, with the mode in which, in many districts, hay is made. In place of being made as quickly as possible, the grass is cut, and when cut, allowed to lie for a considerable time in swathe, exposed either to the effects of the rain or of the sun, or rotted by the grass springing, perhaps, up from beneath. The grass thus treated or rather maltreated, is put up with little or no winnowing or air-drying into "cocks," which are allowed to stand, occupying much space which should be growing a fresh crop for the foggage or aftermath, and the cuticles of which are bleached by the sun and washed by the rain.

In making hay under proper conditions, one essential condition is that plenty of hands be engaged in the work. It is the most mistaken economy to forego abundance of assistance in the field. We have known a capital crop of grass lost as hay entirely through a lack of hands, the fine weather being allowed to pass away, and the rain to come on, while the loss could easily have been avoided by having hands sufficient to work the grass while the good weather lasted. The saying is in no way so appropriate and, indeed, cannot well be otherwise "Make hay while the sun shines," and to do this have plenty of hands to make it. From the time the grass is cut let it be in almost continual movement, so that the air and sun can have access to every stalk. We do not here, of course, refer to clover hay, which has to be treated in a different way, and merely turned over-not tossed and tedded. As soon as the grass is cut, which should be done early in the morning, not only because time is thus saved, but be

[ocr errors]

cause the grass will cut, all the easier with a
little dew wetting it, as soon as cut, the
swathes should be shaken out with the fork,
and laid evenly and thinly out in the field.
This should not be done, as it is unfortunately
often done, carelessly, but, on the contrary,
with great care, so that the heaps or lumps
will be thoroughly disentangled, the object
being to have all the mass thoroughly
loosened, and each stalk independent of its
neighbour. This is the "standard of effi-
ciency”—a standard difficult to be attained,
it must be confessed, but which should never-
theless be aimed at. If hands enough can
be obtained, the turning over and spreading
out of the grass should be done a second and
even a third time before the dinner hour.
The next operation is to rake the spread-out
grass into rows, which is called "wind-row-
ing," and which is done in such a way
that the rows lie on the field parallel
to one another, and distinct from each
other, say 3 or 4 feet. A good deal of tact
is required in arranging the workers so that
they wind-row regularly and without interfer-
ing with each other's work, and also with the
work of the last operation of the day, which is
putting the grass into small "cocks" or
heaps; this being done by dividing the
wind-rows into portions, and raking the grass
in each portion into small heaps. In this,
again, a good deal of time is either lost or
gained, according as the workers operate,
and interfere or not interfere with each other.
If the weather is thoroughly settled, and the
farmer thinks so, and cares to run the risk, Haymaking has been vastly facilitated by
the operation of "cocking" may be dispens- the introduction of machines for mowing,
ed with on the evening of the first day, and tedding, and raking. The tedding machines,
the grass left in the wind-rows. The first however, are not so applicable to clover hay,
operation in the morning of the second day which, as stated above, requires to be carefully
-supposing the grass was cocked the turned over, and handled in all the processes
evening previous is to shake out the so as to prevent, as far as possible, the fine
grass of the "cocks," and spread it out evenly leaves of the clover from being lost, which
on the field. This, however, should not be would inevitably be the case, were the grass
done too early in the morning-not before roughly handled. In the case of hay made
the dew is pretty well off the ground, which from natural grasses, the tedding machines
will rarely be much before nine o'clock. After are employed with manifest advantage,
a certain period of exposure, the hay is and when these are followed by the hay
"single wind-rowed," then "double wind- rake, which gathers the hay into "wind-
rowed"—that is, two workers, or rows of rows," manual labour in haymaking, is

workers, work opposite each other, and with
two single wind-rows between them, each
raking towards himself, and thus bringing two
single wind-rows into a double one. The last
operation of the day is to rake the double
wind-rows into "cocks," these being larger
than the cocks of the first day. These are all
opened out next morning and spread evenly
upon the ground, and turned over or
tedded as often as possible. Wind-rowing
and double wind-rowing are
then gone
through; and last, the whole is divided, and
made up into great cocks preparatory to
being carted off and made up into stack, or
housed. Of course this rapid making pre-
supposes the best possible condition of .
weather. Much will depend upon the weather,
and modifications will necessarily have to
be made. The best weather for haymaking
is that in which a clear cloudless sky and a
slight or briskish breeze are met with. With
weather of this kind grudge no outlay in the
employment of numerous hands, and let the
grass be under continual movement; and
see the work so arranged that all the workers
keep pace with each other, and all work in
unison, so that the making goes regularly on
without interruption. In such weather, and-
with such management, the hay crop may be
housed or stacked by the end of the third
day, certainly by the middle of the fourth.
In bad unsettled weather the process of
haymaking is much more tedious than that
above described, and it tries in many ways
the patience of the farmer.

reduced to a minimum. In many parts of the kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Ireland, much time is unnecessarily lost in haymaking, and it is quite common to see "cocks" of various sizes remaining in the fields long after the hay should have been secured in the stack. This dilatoriness occasion a considerable amount of loss, owing to that portion which occupies the top and bottom of the cocks becoming spoilt by damp. In other cases-such as in some

parts of England-the hay is ricked before it is quite ready, and then we have heat generated, sometimes to such an extent as actually to set the rick on fire. A moderate degree of heat is by no means injurious to hay; but when it is suffered to proceed too far, the hay becomes sapless, and so full of dust as to be injurious to the horses which consume it, inducing, as we have frequently had reason to believe, broken wind and similar disorders.

TRANSPLANTING FOR FILLING UP BLANKS IN ROOT CROPS.

THA

HAT the hopes of the husbandman are not always realized is a trite saying; rather, indeed, would it be the better way to say, that they are more frequently doomed to disappointment than to realization. And in view of this, with which unfortunately every farmer is too familiar, everything is of importance bearing upon modes of operation, which have for their aim the averting of losses, or if not averting them, in lessening their extent. And hence we deem a few remarks upon a subject, of which it may be said, that if not much attention has hitherto been paid to it, at least deserves that attention should be paid to it. The fact that a practice is not followed is no reason why that practice may be bad, and it often happens that a good practice is long in working its way into what may

be called thorough popularity. In this category we may place that which forms the subject of the present brief paper. That transplanting is a process more of gardening than of farming is true enough, but that it may be useful in the practice of the latter, as it undoubtedly is in that of the former calling, is also as true; not merely because transplanting is sometimes used in the farm, as in the case of cabbages, and because it might be further extended in the case of other crops, as for example in that of kohlrabi and of rape-the former of which crops we believe to give the best results when grown in

the field from transplanted plants-but because transplanting is eminently useful, and of high practical value, in the case of filling up of "blanks" in other crops, as turnips, mangold, and the like, do we deem a few remarks upon it likely to be useful. We say the plan is of high practical value, and this is evident when we consider that, by its adoption, much land may be availed of which is left blank in the case of failure of such crops as the turnip; for it is to be remembered that the point is, in such cases, not whether the farmer shall have a small crop on the blank spaces, but that it is certain if he leaves them blank he will have none. This seems a very absurd way of stating what must very evidently be to all a truth; it not only seems but really is, yet in some cases the only way to gain attention to a point of importance is thus to state it-the "reductio ad absurdum" is not always a useless way of arguing a point. If these blank spaces exist in our fields, it seems after all but a very reasonable way to put the matter, that it will be better to fill them up with some useful plant than to allow them to remain growing none. And we know of no plan of utilizing such spaces so valuable and so easily carried out withal, as filling them up with some useful forage crop, such as cabbage or the like.

That a large amount of land is really allowed to stand idle in the case of root

crops which have missed, is obvious enough if one draws to memory the number of fields which in certain seasons and districts he has seen, and the number of blank spaces on them. Taking, then, for granted, the fact that the mode of utilizing such spaces is worthy of adoption, we shall glance briefly at a few of the points connected with it. And first, as to the seed-bed in which the plants are to be raised. The situation of this should be in some sheltered spot, protected from cold and biting winds, and open to sunshine and balmy breezes, the great object being to obtain a number of plants in the highest stage of development within the short, or comparatively short space of time which lies between the period of sowing and transplanting them into the field. The soil of the seed-bed should be well and fully worked, and richly manured. Difference of opinion exists as to whether it is the better plan to sow the seed broadcast in the bed or the drills. One advantage of the drill system is, that hoeing and weeding can be well carried out; the disadvantage, if indeed it is one, is that more ground is required. The plants will be all the better for being thinned out, although many seem to think that all that is necessary is to put the seed in the bed, and let the plants grow as they list. But not only should the plants be thinned out, but correct theory as well as sound practice dictate that if the plants are what gardeners call "pricked out," they will be all the more valuable for field purposes. All this to some will be as much ado about nothing," but, as we hold that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, we think it best to say what is well doing. When the plants are about to be transferred from the seed-bed to the field, this transference should be carefully done. The best condition of the soil in which to remove the plants without injury is the moist one after a gentle rain. The plants can be pulled up easily without breaking off the roots, which can scarcely be avoided if the ground is hard and dry. The plants when taken up should be carefully laid in baskets, and in such a way as to preserve them as much as possible in the position which they assumed when growing.

66

The next point to be considered is the transplanting them in the field, and this brings up the question as to which is the best kind of soil for this operation. We have no hesitation in saying-because our practice and its results has shewn the opinion to be well founded that the best state of soil in which to transplant is a moist one, or that met with after gentle rains. We are not here, in saying this, forgetting that some maintain the opposite view-namely, that the best state of soil in which to transplant is a dry one. In the one case we transplant after rain, in the other before it, and after dry weather. We, as above stated, believe the transplanting after rain to be the best. When so transplanted we have found very few of the plants fail—a result the very opposite of that which we found to be the case in transplanting in a dry soil. The advocates of the dry soil maintain that this is best, because after the plants are put in, although they may droop, still when rain comes it pushes vigorously on; whereas, when the plant is put into moist or wet soil, and the dry weather succeeds, the soil becomes hard and baked, and prevents the proper development of the plant. In the case of the dry soil, the advocates assume that after the plant is put into the soil rain will shortly come, whereas it may not come, and that if put into the moist soil it will therefore become dry, whereas rain may come after they are put in as well as before, and then the soil will not become dry. The truth is, that the advocates of extreme views frequently assume extreme facts. It is just possible that in this question, as in others, the middle course is the best, and that neither a too dry nor a too wet soil is good-for our part we believe in a moderately moist soil as the best; and not only because we believe the plants do best, but because we know that there is a mechanical reason in favour of it. Those who have tried to make

a good clear dibble hole in very dry soil will know what we mean. In soil of this character it is scarcely possible to make the hole clear, the dry soil will fall in and fill it up more or less. In moist soil the hole can be

« ПретходнаНастави »