Edwardsville Spectator

From the New-England Farmer

Mr. Editor-As your paper is almost exclusively devoted to the subject of agriculture, I beg leave to submit, through the medium of it, a few observations upon a subject which though long since introduced, and by some few claimed some small share of attention, is, perhaps, susceptible of as much improvement as any one branch of agriculture.- I allude to the subject of cutting hay, straw, &c. for fodder and other uses.

In the first place, it is evident beyond a doubt, that a great saving may be made by cutting hay--as by this means it is more generally mixed together--i. e. the best locks with the poorest--the heads, seed, leaves, stalks, &c. become a general mixture--so, that the animal cannot select the best locks, and tread the remainder under foot, as is frequently the case; especially when you would keep them full of feed and in high flesh. As no farmer can avoid having different qualities of hay, he can cut a small quantity of good, with some of his poorer, indifferent quality, and thus mixed it will be as readily eaten as the best without cutting--or even take washed hay with a trifle of brine sprinkled upon it, or when it is to be had, a small quantity of salt hay cut with it; and it is equal to, and will go as far as the average quality of hay fed in the common way. And if hay is scarce, as is often the case, add a portion of cut straw with the best quality of hay, and when well mixed together it will go much farther by the addition of the straw.

I think that no one of any experience or observation in feeding stock, will attempt to deny these facts, and that these alone would at least warrant the expense of an experiment. But notwithstanding the evident importance of what has been said respecting hay, it is still more evident that with the article of straw still greater savings and improvements may be made. In the first place it is universally admitted that cut straw mixed with meal or provender is an excellent substitute for hay, and in many cases supersedes the use of hay to those who have their fodder to buy, because the same expended for grain and straw (as the prices for hay and grain usually are) will go further than it would if expended for hay-and prove better to those that raise their fodder, because more can be raised with the same expense.

But besides the utility of using it for fodder, it may be used with much more profit for manure, by cutting it, than it can without--for instead of throwing it, in large quantities, into the yard, as is usually the case, to undergo a decomposition by being exposed to the wet and dry weather through the summer season, thereby losing one half or more of its real worth, which is carried away in the atmosphere to enrich the distant hills and mountains. I say instead of this, cut the straw fine and strew it liberally into your stables-it affords a soft and agreeable bed for your cattle, which is very necessary in cold weather; it also absorbs and retains all the valuable moisture of stall and droppings of the cattle, and prevents it from freezing in large and troublesome heaps to the floor, and is easily shovelled out and mixed with the stable manure, and no doubt adds to the manure exclusive of the addition of the straw, and is much more fit for use in the spring by reason of its fineness and capable of being more equally spread and mixed with the soil, besides being doubled in quantity and quality by the addition of straw, or if more is raised than can be disposed of in this way, supply your hog-styes with it; or even if thrown into the yard, it abundantly pays the expense of cutting; for by sprinkling a small quantity of brine upon it, your cattle will eat more of it, than they would if it were whole; and the surplus is ready in the spring to be applied as manure; but if thrown out whole, it is almost impossible to take it from the yard or spread it upon the land on account of its tough and entangled state.

It may also be used with great advantage by sowing it at broad casts over the fields either in grass or ploughing lands, the latter of which is preferable. It has a valuable effect, as by spreading it even and by ploughing it in, it mixes evenly with the soil, and renders it light and fertile.

It furnishes an excellent manure for potatoes; put half a peck or more of cut straw to a hill, and your crop will be greatly increased, and the land improved for the next crop in consequence of it.

That straw is worth five or ten times more for manure by being applied before rotted, is evident beyond a doubt, from the fact that stubble when turned in immediately after reaping, will not only support a long succession of crops, but will actually improve the soil. But when it is suffered to remain standing six or eight weeks, it is well known that it is much lessened in its value, and that a short course of such practice will unfit the land for cultivation, unless sustained from other sources.

Oats in the sheaf may also be cut to great advantage, as it is cheaper than threshing, and makes more consistent food than oats alone.

The foregoing observations are made with a view to excite a greater attention to this subject. If they have this effect upon the farmer, I shall feel myself amply rewarded for my trouble-satisfied as I am, that when he has made a fair experiment he will no longer adhere to the course pursued, in this respect, by his father and grandfather.