Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-08-15
From the Southern Cultivatoy.
EiaY

chemistry INFORMS us, tnaG OF tHe various
ingredients which compose grass, those
portions which are Immediately soluble
in water, are best fitted for the purposes
of nutrition; and therefore it should be
cus when the largest amount of gluten,
sugar, and other soluble matter is con-
tainei in it. And those grasses should
be selected which are richest in these
substances. Solnc grasses are composed
largely Of woody fibre, and are very poor
in all that is valuable in producing red
flesh and fat. Many Of the constituents
of the animal body. and of vegetable
production, are nearly the same, and in
some cases idenlical. Magaric Acid,
from lard. is tIre same as that from Olive
Oil. Vegetable and animal albunen are
very siri!ar. Hence, the importance OF
presenting proper food to animals; it's
economy in labor and time, producing
more flesh and a better animal, in shor-
ter time, than when fed OH poor forage,
in which there is great waste.
The period when grass is most useful
for hay, is when in full bloom. When it
first springs up. the chief constituent Of
its blades is water-the amount OF SOLID
,natter being comparatively small. As
its growth advances, solid matter is de-
posited-sugar and soluble matter at first
increasing up TO Il certain point, then
giving way to woody fibre. the saccharine
m tier and nutritive juices beng most
abundant when the grass is in full flower.
" hen a plant has formed seed, most of
the valuable juices in The stalk have been
replaced by woody fibre, which is insolu-
BILE in water, and therefore unfit for being
assimi!ated in the stomach. When the
seed arrive at maturity. the leaves and
stem begin to decay so that if the grass
is not cut when in flower, it is worthless
for hay, and had better be used as seed
in grain crops. There are said TO he, and
probably there are, some exceptions to
this rule. Timothy hay cut when in seed,
is estimated in value IA, to when cut i'll
bloom.
The great art of converting grass into
good hay, consists in rendering it sutfir
GENTLY dry to prevent its taking on too
great heat in the stack, and at the same
time preserving unimpaired large por-
ton of the nutritive juice of the plants.
Where this medium cen be obtainsd, the
best and most nutritious hay will be pro-
duced. 1t isa difficult point, and REQUIRES
much care and attention. When put up
too green, heating may he produced,
which if it goes too far, ruins tine hay. If
suffered to dry out by too long exposure
to the sun, the hay is worthless, and is
refused by cattle.
Grass should be cut in the morning as
dry from dew. If the swath is heavy, it
must be spread thinly, SO as to allow the
sun and air free access to it. If this is
properly done, and the weather favorable.
the grass cut early in the morning, may
be raked into small shocks by the middle
of the day, where it may remain for two
or three days; at the end of which time,
# the weather is favorable, they should
be thrown down, and after a half day ex.
posure to the sun, collected in stacks, or
put in bulk in the barn. When the grass
is suffered to remain long exposed 10 the
sun, without being turned, the topbccome,
brown and withered, while the under part
is uncured. By proper treatment, every
valuable quality is preser ied-the hay is
Of fine green color, and possesses so
pleasant flavor that animals eat it with
relish. It. has been contended by many.
,hat.there is no necessity for having th'
hay thoroughly dry before putting in
bulk, as it will keep even when there is
much moisture in it; and should there be
my fears entertained on this point, all
lanser may be avoided by mixing it with
<alt-a practice advocated by many very
sensible and practical farmers. Trials,
On large and expensive scale, have hee''
careti0ly instituted to test this theory.
md have proven, beyond doubt, that
the addition of salt to damp hay is no
preventive against hcating. On the con-
trary. if moist weather follow immedi.
ately af;er putting it in bulk, the addition
of salt. instead of being useful, is irjnri
Gus; it being we'll established fact. that
salt, and everything impregnatcd with it,
yreedily attracts moisture from the sir.
Should the newly mown grass be caught
by rain, while in the swath, the less it is
disturbed, the better. Grass has been
found to preserve its nutritive matter for
days, when cut wet, or Caught by rain
while in the swath. If the weather is un.
favorable do not spread it, or even turn
it in the swath If repeatedly dried aud
wetted again, il soon becomes valueless.
1t is better to have it somewhat heated
in the shock, than to have its nutrimcnt
leached cut by alternate wettings.
|. Clover, hay and pea vines may be
cured with much less sun, thus saving
the shedding. of the leaves. Beautiful
hay has been made from clover with three
hours sun-then putting in small shocks;
should the heating 60 too far it may be
spread out for few hours. Clover and
pea vines pack so loosely when in the
cock. that they will not be likely to in
-ju:e from heating, unless in large bnlk.
But these cocks, if anywhere near cured,
should be housed or stacked, if there is
danger of rain coming on, as their open
nature renders them much more suscepti-
ble to injury from long storms beating
into them, than hay made from the finer
grasses, cocks Of which are penetrated
not over an inch or two by the longest
storms-all the centre part being as green
and bright as if in the barn or stack
Poor FARaERs DESTROY NArIoNs.--No