The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-06-29
THE PION EER.
AGPICULTU RAJ L
Time for Cutting Hay, Sc.

Proper Time for Cutting Hay, Sc.
Eps 70 CouSTaY GENTLEMAN--I have
been looking for some more extended sug-
gestions in your paper, on the subject OF
hay, either from your pens or those of you
experienced correspondents. Indeed il
seems to me that the public needs to be en-
lightened upon this subject, and to your
sheet, with its deserved reputation, we
must look for the lead. Not only the pro-
ducer. but the purchaser, should have
correct view Of the subject, for much hay
i, grown and caused with reference to the
taste Of the buyer, rather than to the bene'
fit of the animals that consume it. The
demand in market is all for timothy, es-
peciaIly for horses, and that cut when the
seed is fully grown. Nothing else passes
as good hay in our markets. In France
and England, understand clover sells as
No. 1, and in Boston and other New Eng
land markets, foul meadow takes the per-
cedence. have fed to horses cattle and
sheep with good success, all varieties of
clover from the largest to the smallest
(whi.e); also timothy, red top grown up
on dry ground, and mixed with clover and
timothy and June or spear grass from rich
and damp ground, and l have found the
more varieties grown the larger the yield.
There is, however, / apprehend, one
fault, and a great one, of the farmer, which
contributes to the peculiar aud exclusive
taste of the buyer, that is the mode of cut
ing. Late cut grass is cured when cut,
but early cut must be cured with care and
skill, as it will surfer in nutriment or be-
come musty. But before making any
suggestions upon the mode of curing,
will offer my views in short upon the time
of cutting.
Ihave no doubt that grasses of all COM
mon varieties, are at their greatest perfec-
tion for hay when in the blossom. The
after growth is more abundant when cut
in that state; the ground better protected
from the rays of the sun, and the roots left
in more vital state for the succeeding
crops: and, in addition, the bran yard is
spared from much foul seed, which natures
in late cut hay. This, may say, is the
result ofmy limited experience and obser-
walton. My childhood was spent upon a
farmin Windsor County, Vermont. Clover
was there generally moved in June, and
the good farmers commenced haying, (of
their English grass as they called it, by
July, and | am fully convinced their hay
was more nutritious than our late cut hay.
Cattle, sheep. and even horses grew and
gained in flesh, upon this hay. And on
occasional visits 10 that section, when /
have driven my own horses, have found
they would do better on the hay in Yer
mont than in New York. In the western
part ofNew York, where I had what was
properly called grain farm, for some
years, often had an opportunity of testing
the value of hay which I cut early, and
cured, my way with that purchased, cut
and cured to fashion of the market. NY
horses, when fed on clover hay grown up
on my own farm, without grain, did as
well as when fed on the purchased, with
eight quarts Of oats daily. Itwould afford
me much pleasureto seefuther light beam
ed upon this bark subject, in your columns
- Country Gentlemen.