Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-07
when 10 Cut Grass for Horses and
Cows.

when 90 Cut Grass for Horses and
Cows.
The american Farmer says orchard
grass must be cut this month and made
into hay, and advises cutting too early,
rather than too late But it is best to get
just the right time, if possible 1t is said
that thessbee are good guides in this mat
ter, as they know best when the sugar is
developed, and the sweetest hay is to be
made The common sign of fitness for
cutting clover is when a portion of the
blossoms have turned brown-some say
third, some more. We think that too Of
ten the error is committed of beginning
too late--when the stems are hard, and
the leaves damaged by moisture 1t is
very desirable to have the clover as free
from water as possible when cut Let it
lie but a few hours in the sun; then throw
it into cocks where it may finish curing.
Before taking it to the barn, throw these
open for a few hours, when it may be
safely housed Orchard grass should be
moved when it comes into full bloom. In
this connection, the following extract from
a report of a discussion before the New
York State Agricultural Society will be
interesting:
Scion Robinson, of the New York T-i-
btae, was called upon by the chairman to
state why horsemen in New York preferred
mature timothy 10 that cut green? He
answered: Simply because they have found
it the most economical. The most careful
experiments il feeding 1000 or 1900 head
of horses, in The Third avenue railroad
stables, have been Hade by the Hon. Will
liam A. Darling, President of that com
pany, and the result is a ration of fourteen
pounds of good sound timothy hay, finely
chafied and wet, and mixed with sixteen
pounds Of corn, oat or wheat meal. Those
who feed single horses use uncut hay, but
they prefer the grass mature enough for
part Of the seed TO grow, and that is my
own experience for horses. For cows
would cut the grass green, but never for
horse; for / havenever seen one that would
eat aftermath with a relish. Cut your grass
as green as you please for cows and calves
and sheep, but let il mature for horses, par
ticularly for those that are daily fed with
grain, which is always cheaper than hay
in New York city; and that is why it is
depended upon, and why they are willing
90 feed hay, which, some of you farmers
say, is no better than rye straw. / do not
think so. ! think a horse fed upon green
grass hay very liable "a. the heaves while
one fed upon that which has matured 30
that you can save hay seed from the man
ger is rarely IL ever troubled with the
heaves.
Mr. Curtiss, Of Tompkins, remarked that
his father cut his hay early, thinking his
horses would consume fewer oats thereby,
but the animals invariably bad the heaves
in consequence. He cut his giass later and
avoided such troubles. ANY horse that eats
immediately Of timothy cut in the blow,
will have the heaves. IL hay was designed
for cows, would cut grass early.
A. l.. Fish, of Herkimer county, said
So far as experiments in feeding road horses
20 TO prove the best and most economical
method, they are beneficial. But in my
view the rule will not apply to the farmer
who cuts hay for a variety of stock, such as
calves, colts, sheep, mich cows, etc. The
road horse that eats more grain than hay
requires ripe hay or straw TO extend the
stomach and prevent too rapid fermenta-
tion and passing off of the food through
the stomach and bowels, and 10 supply the
waste of muscular tissue from severe eXer-
else. Ripe hay or grain straw contains
more silica than dried grass, hence the ar
gument that ii will best supply the waste Of
muscular tissue. Illuminating animals are
different from the horse. Calves and lambs
viii not live upon ripe hay, and mich COWS
and fat cattle can do much better upon
dried grass
The best time 20 cut grass for general use
il, undoubtedly, when it contains the most
albumen. That period in its growth have
assumed 20 be when it is in blossom. A
proper analysis Of grass at different stages
Of It's maturity, would aid the farmer
much ia determining the proper time |
to cut grass for hay. IL Is too
intricate a problem for the farmer |
to solve without the aid of the chemist and |
psychologists as TO what period in the |
grown and maturity Of the plant IL should |
De taken nom its sphere and passed over |
70 me animal as physical medium through /
when 70 attain a specific object. Are we /
MOI 700 inueh IN the traditionary habit Of
ieeding me same kind of food 20 different /
snlmSis ior different purposes; Of feeding
from The same CRIB for gross bulk Of young /
animals, tor butter, cheese, lard, etc, and /
for muscular tissue in working animate
And do We not pay too little regard 90 the
future condition Of meadows in the time of
cutting grass for hay 2 All meadows should |
be seeded with several kinds Of grass and |
rs they do not all mature alike, and cannot
be cut At once, prefer TO cut when half Is
in blossom, then wait ill the balance comes |