Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-23
agrnataral,
The Proper Time for Cutting
Timothy.
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The proper time for cutting Timothy
meadows with reference 10 secure the beet
qualities of hay, has been fruitful subject
of observation and remark Little or no at.
tention hss been paid to the influence OF
the time and number Of cutting over TIE
health, permsnency and productiveness Of
such meadows. A vague idea prevails,
among farmers, that If the moving be per-
formed before the seed of this species of
grsss is ripe, il will run out, frcm failure
To re-seed the ground. Every observing
farmer has noticed that. in some instances,
extensive tracts of Timothy sward have
suddenly died soon after the removal o: the
crop Of hay, while. in others,the sward con-
tiuued healthy,s ,sud for q series Of years pro-
duced abun6an;ly Of this grsss. The rational
of such opposite results, under spperanty
similar circumstances, had never been ex-
e5plained,so lar as my information extends.
Nv neighbor, Richard McCrary, an intel
lisent and practical farmer, has recently
presented me with the annexed propositions
ana conclusions. as the results U. his expert
ence on this subject, Theoe he illustrated
by specimens of the grass, in every condi-
tion 10 which he slludes. II is hoped they
will be thoroughly scannee,by persons COM
pelent 10 test their accuracy. II they bear
their test, Dir. MsCrery the credit Of the
discovery of the fscts solely belongs; ard |
have no doub, the community will consider
him as having conferred an important bene-
6t.
/. Timothy Erass (PhIsum pratefse) lie a
perennial plant, which renews itself by an
snnual formation of bulbs or, perhaps,
more correctly speaking. tubers, in which
all the vitality of the plant is concentrated
during the winter. These form, in what
ever locality The plant is selected, VT out
reference TO dryness ..or moisture. From
these proceed the stalks which support the
leaves and head, and from the same source
spread out the numerous iibres, forming the
true roots.
2. To insure a perfect development Of
these tubers, a certain amount of nutrition
must be sssimilated in the leaves, and re-
turn to the base of the plant, through the
stalk.
8. As soon as this process Of nutrition is
completed, it becomes manifest by the sp-
pearsnce of stste OF desiccation, or dry
ness, always commencing at point directly
above either the first or sebchd joint of the
stem, near the crown of the tuber.. From
this point the desiccation gradually progress
ses upwards, and the last portion of .he
stalk that yields up its freshness is that ad-
joining the head. Coincident with the
beginning Of this process is the full develop
ment OF the seeds. and with its progress
hey meture. Its earliest appearance is evi-
dence that boIh the tUbers and seeds have
received their requisite supplies of nutri.iOn
and that neither the stalk nor the leaves are
longer necessary to aid them IN completing
their maturity. A similar process occuru ie
the onion. just above the crown of the bulb
indicating the maturity of that organ.
q, If the stalk be cut from the tubors,
before this evidence o. maturity has ap-
peared. the necessary supplies of nutrition
will be arrested, their proper growth will
cease, and an effort will be made to repair
the injury by sending out small latera! tu-
bsrs, from which weak and unhealthy stalks
will proceed. at the expense of the origina
fubers. All will ultimately perish, either
by the droughts of autumn or the cold 0.
winter.
S. Tubers. tsgether with one or two o
the lower joints of the stalk, remain fresh
and green, during the winter, if left to take
their natural course; but if, by any means
this green portion be severed ,at any season
of the year, the result will be the death o.
the plant.
From the foregoing considerations it i,
concluned:
I. ! hat Timothy grass cannot under any
circumstances, be adapted for pasture; a:
the close nippipg of horses and sheep i:
fatal to the tubers, which are also exten.
siysly destroyed by swine.
2. The proper period for moving Timothy
10 at any time after the process of dessjeca
tien has commenced on the sralk, as notet
in proposition 3. 1t sis not very essentia
whether il performed week earlier o.
later, provided it be postponed tilt that evi
dence of maturity has become manifest.
4. All attempts at close shaving th,
sward should be avoiped, while using tht
scythe, and in gauging moving machines
care should be taken to run them SO higl
that they will not cut the Timothy below
the second joint above the tuber.-U. S
Pais7s 0tic. Report.