The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-07-07
AGRICULTURAL.
HAY-M TAKING.

Why not adopt the same rule in regard &c
the lime OF cutting clover and grass for hay
that is followed in cutting medical herbs
The object in both cases is TO secure the in
trinsic virtues OF The plant, In curing herbs
as all acquainted with the suh;ec admit, the
most proper time for cutting is when they are
in full bloom: and it is also admitted that
they should be cured in the shade, because il
exposed TO the more direct influence Of the
sun and air, some Of their valuable proper
les would be evaporated.
We know there is some difference CT opin-
ion in regard to the proper lime for cutting
grass. The advocates for ripe hay contend
that there is more substance in ii, and that
il will go further" in feeding stock. than
that which is cut while il is In blossom. And
so we suppose ihere is still more substance"
in scrub oak brush and that il would 90 still
further III feeding mot supp0rfing) Stock
Admit that there is more substance in ripe
grass is II kind of substance which affords
more nourshment TO animals?
Plants, at the time of Towering, contain
starch, gum, and sugar; all of which are
known TO nourish animals. In the formation
o. seed, the stems and leaves are exhausted
of these substances, and the substance which
remains is chiefly woody fibre. But it may
be said the composition of woody fibre, starch
and gum are nearly the same. Admitted,
but this does not prove that animals are
able 10 extract nearly an equal amount Of
nourishment from each. The composition of
the diamond, The hardest Of all substances,
may be said TO be similar 10 that OF starch.
gum, &c.,--carbon being the chief element
oil all but the digestive organs of animals
would hardly be able 10 convert the diamond
into organized tissue. And though woody
fibre. ifeaten by cattle or sheep, might ''stick
by the ribs" we think the ribs would not ac-
quire from it much fat, or the system much
Strength.
In some pert Of the country, animals are
actually iattened for market on hay alone
This may seem strange TO those who feed
their stock only with clover and timothy
which has gone TO seed; for we presume
their stock was never thus fatened. But
where this object is attained the grass is cul
while it is quite green, mot past bloom and
made and preserved with great care. Ii is
true there are some kinds of grasses, as the
"spire grass" or the Kentucky blue grass"
Pod pratensiS) which make but little bulk
in seed stalks the chief growth consisting Of
leaves which spring from the root The
greatest value in fodder would be obtained
in such eases by allowing the crop 10 grow
till il had acquired It's greatest bulk. This
remark however by no means apply 10 cIo-
yer, or timothy, or The grasses usually cult
vailed Tor hay.
In making hay, we would expose il 10 the
sun and air no more than is required 10 e.
ecl its preservation. for the same reason tha.
Is above given in reference 10 curing herbs
Clover can be cured-indeed ii is most con
veniently cured-wIlh but very little expose
IRE 10 the sun. lff is not wet, and is fairly
wllled, ii may be put wiki forks, into cocks
which will weigh when dry, about fifty
pounds each, and will efieciually cure
Timothy, also, may be cured in the same
manner. The finer grasses, when thrown
INTO body, pack more closely and afford less
space for The air consequently they require
10 be more thinly spread in making.
Excepting white clover, which we never
spread out OF swath, our practice has been 10
spread oct the swaihs as evenly as possible
II the burden Is stout, as soon as the dew is
of; in the afternoon, rake and cock il before
the dew falls. We prefer putting it in cocks
even lift is no more than wited, because the
sweating II will there undergo in the course
OF twelve hours, will much facilitate the max
ING. and II the grass is coarse and hard. il will
render it much more soft. Besides. hay that
has been well sweated in cock, is not liable
TO fermenrin The stack or nov.
Whether the hay which was moved and
put in cocks on The first day will make so that
II will do 10 30 10 the barn on the second day
depends Of course on lis condition or the
state o: the weather. fall appearances indi-
cate that the hay can be made sufficiently on
second day, Cand repeated observations only
can determine The degree OF dryness which
Is requlred,) open The cocks and shake the
hay out lightly, thoroughly breaking all the
locks with the fork. But it should not lie
spread out later than three or four o'clock in
the afternoon, but should be put up again
or ii dry enough, put in the barn by this time,
lest II contract moisture. Ifirom the condi
lion OF the hay or the appearances OF the
weather. there is probability that the hay
cannot be made enough in one day, let il
remain undisturbed till the weather is favor
able.
There are one or two other considerations
in favor of early cutting which we omitted
to notice above. 1t is admitted by physiolo-
glsts that plants exhaust both their own ener-
gies and the soil, more in forming seed, than
in the whole preceding proportion of their
growth. Thus when grass is suffered TO
ripen, it gives but little alter-growih, and
from the exhaustion mentioned, the sward
more quickly dies out-ALbGny CuLirator