The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-07-23
facfs for farmers.
1Soo - Csantry Gsstlsmaa.
JuV-su00sses SS~sS.

E. IT, - SD0oesy 00oss9nsno-
-,sascns So Opssae1oos Or shs
- ~ .iisps1ss asia q .Ssss.sg.
,0ssas Iks yellow sunahins n ~ vss1s"
The sickle and the seyths, Tie saks and the
III. are prominent sooog the ag8ooltafAl en-
bleos Of JAY; although shs hbsse q The field
s,e variouA In shis neath-peshags quite -
1uch or nsss than il any oshse-fhsners must
b 1seec.ssisg-lookisg abesd-is many q shsir
plans. and be active and judicious in devisog
he bsss means tos expedising the different kinds
Of labor that need 70 be performed daring the
month When the weather 10 fair, and when il
b vet and lowry. if al plans are properly laid.
bus little time among the l.borers may run %
va~a. In this latitude I0dian corn receives The
secoed or third cultivation buck sheat ID sovn
In the early part of the month; hsying is in fall
preeress; summer falows are brvksn and cross
pIovsd and during the latter part OF the month
wheat and barley h.rvests will commence.
S.sesaioas about Haying do Ne not
allow the grass OF our pastures to grow up tall
and heavy, before our cattle are allowed to grass
thereinf And Why do cattle like fresh, tender
grass tar better than that which 10 tough and old
and partly dried up? Because i. affords them
mere noarishmsnt, and is not 90 very hard Of d.
session. An right, thus far We agree. Nov
thea, if tender grass affords more Rourishment
than the cid and dsied up grasa, surely the hay
that has been made Of tender grass will be far
better THAI il would be we're it allowed to become
fully ripe before is 10 cut.
Many agree that "hay will 90 farther" if it
i allowed TO become fully ripe before il ID cut
This cannot be successfully refuted. But II il
will 70 farther, or last longer next winter, that
sane hay, il il had been cut when il was in full
bloen, would have afforded more nsxriskmsni
to stock, than they can possibly derive from it.
In ether words, ton Of hay that has been made
Of grass fully ripe will not be consumed a. soon
- IL il had been cut when il Vas greener. OF
when in full bloom. 1t 10 q very erroneous
principle that has long been inculculated and
sealousy defended, that grass should be cut fer
hay Ct . period when "s will 60 the fsrthssI'
In feeding stock. II the idea 10 chiefly to have
hay last long time, or 60 good way, then lie,
IL stand until the most Of the leaves dry, and
most Of the stems changed to woody fibre.
Most OF our fathers have instructed Us that q
ton Of old hay-if two or three years old the
better stills worth more, ss it will 60 much
farther than ton Of good hay. This IS oil cor.
rect in one sense; and in another, it is very in
correct.
Here is the point that settles the entire mis-
understanding between rs al on the subject un.
stage OF the growth Of grass. ana OF MI plants,
when for certain different purposes, those pants
may be said TO be at their acme, or highest state
Of perfection for given purpose.
IN gathering herbs for medical purpos. 9, every
enc will acknowledge that when th0se herbs or
flowers are in full bloom they will afford the
greatest amount Of Gr0nna, or medicinal proper
tics, and much greater than they will il allowed
- stand until they are dead ripe.
Now it 10 precisely so with grass and hay.
when grass 10 in full bloom it will afford the
greatest smouns Of nourishment 70 stock bat
- sOon 10, or even before the blossoms begin t.
fall Cd. the nourishment begins to diminish, a
much Of the substance as would have nou'ished
stock had the grass been cut sooner, 10 changed
70 woody 6bre; and although is will last logger
and 70 farther, the stock that consume it viii
Be sourished less and grow poorer.
Every farmer who will give this subject proper
theaght will appreciate the force Of this reason.
iag, and understand the Importance Of cutting
grao before it 10 dead ripe if he would secure
the greatest amount OF noarishmsnt for hisssock.
When grass 10 in full bloom, the most Of the
Gaccharins nattsr-the starch and gum in its
in fluid, semi fluid, or dough state, and may Be
very easily digested; aud il il 10 cut and the
water dried out of it, it will then digest very
readily. But allow the grass to stand until it is
dry, Or partially dry, q large proportion Of that
nsarish0ent 10 gone or changed, 90 that it wil;
nos be available q n0urishment to stock of any
kiad.
There is another consideration connected with
haying which il seldom thought Of until it 10 too
hte, which 10 sssorting ~eV hay. In almoss
every meadow, Or ct least in many old meadows,
The hay sill be Of various qualities, not only %
fas - the quality Of the grass 10 concerned, bat
IN tie manner in which the hay has been made.
Ny own practice always has been on THE point
- sndeavor to have the poorer and cearser quail.
lily Of the hay put oy itself, where Il can b got
as in the coolest weather in the winter, or at any
time, and have Il cut up with strsw-cutter, and
mingled with straw and little meal Of course
such preparation Of poor hay does not make is
coed, ner make it more nourishing; but it rem
ders is more palatable. end prepares il 70 be
more easily and more effectually digested than if
il vsrs fed whole.
The best quality Of hay should always be pla-
ED where il can be fed TO lambs and calves and
ether young animals at any time. or at all times
during the fodderng season and always aimed
- have ton or more of my best bay put where
IL would be ct hand the next spring, to be fed to
teams and mich cows. This 10 . very important
consideration, a. teams and mich cows in the
spring need the best OF hay at that season Of the
year. Bus in case no regard is paid to assorting
bay. the best Of hay is very liable 70 be all fed
eat h the winter, and much Of the poorest qua.-
lily Of il will be kept until spring when stock viii
not eat il well.