The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-07-08
The Proper Time for Cutting Tim
Othy.

The proper time for cutting timothy
meadows, with reference to securing the |
best qualities of hay, has been a fruitful
subject Of observation and remark Little
or no attention has been paid 70 the ipfiu- !
ence Of the tine a%32 HAMMER Of cutting
"a the neaiLn, pcrmanency, and produc- |
tiveness of such meadows. A vague idea |
prevails among farmers that If the moving |
be performed before the seed of this spc-
ces of grass is ripe, it will run out, from |
failure to resced the ground. Every OBJ |
serving farmer has noticed that, in some
instances, extensive tracts of timothy |
sward have suddenly died, soon after the |
removal of the crop of hay, while in others |
the sward continued healthy. and for Sc
res of years produced abundantly of this
grass. The rationale of such opposite re-
suits. under apparently similar circum-
stances. had never been explained, so far
as my information extends.
|. Timothy grass (Phleum fratense) is
q perennial plant which renews itself by
an annual formation of bulbs" or. per-
haps, more correctly speaking, tubers, in
which all the vitality of the plant is con-
centrated during the winter. These form.
in whatever locality the plant is selected,
without reference to dryncss or moisture.
From these proceed the stalks which sup
port the leaves and head, and from the same
source spread out the numerous fibers,
forming the true roots.
,. To insure a perfect development of
these tubers a certain amount of nutrition
must be assimilated in the leaves, and re-
turn to the base of the plant, through the
stalk.
3. As soon rs this process of nutrition
Is completed, it becomes manifest by the
appearance of a state of desslcation, or dry
ness, always commencing at point directly
above either the first or second Joint of the
Igtn Of hn ftnhn enf
this point the dessicatiOn gradually pro-
crosses upward, and the last portion of the
stalk that yields up its freshness Is that ad-
, Joining the head. Coincident with the be-
ginning of this process. is the full develop
nent of the seeds, and with its progress
they mature. Its earliest appearance is
, evidence that both the tubeTs and seeds
have received thei- requisite supplies Of
nutrition, and that neither the stalk moi
the leaves are longer necessary to aid then
in completing their maturity. A similar
S process occurs in the onion. just above tho
crown of the bulb, indicating the maturity
of that organ.
G 4. If the stalk be cut from the tubers, be-
. fore this evidence of maturity has ap
. peared. the necessary supplies of nutrition
{ will be arrested, their proper growth viii
cease, and an effort will be made to repai
the injury. by sending out small latera
2 tubers, from which weak and unhealthy
- stalks will proceed. at the expense Of thu
Z original tubers. All will intimately per.
g ish, either by the droughts Of autumn o.
= the cold of winter,
5. The tubers, together with one or TIVE
}, of the lower joints of the stalk remain
fresh and green, during the winter, " lef
: to take their natural course; but if, by am
n means, this green portion be severed, a
any season of the year, the result will b.
s the death of the plant.
From the foregoing considerations il /
concluded:
! /. That timothy grass can not undc
d any circumstances. he adapted for pasture
as the close nipping of horses and sheep 1
II fatal to the tubers, which are also exten
@ sively destroyed by swine.
?. The proper period for moving timo
e thy 10 at any time after the process Of ,les
i sication has commenced on the stock, a
noted In proposition 3. 1t Is not very es
'l sential whether 1t performed n week ear
lier or later, provided il be postponed unit
that evidence of maturity has become man
ilest.
3. All attempts at close shaving tn
)f sward should he avoided, while using In
i scVthc, and, in guauging moving machines
i care should be taken to run them so higl
n that they will not cut the timothy below
3 the second Joint above the tuber.-CiH. En-
{. quirer.
- There is perhaps no subject come cite
n with agriculture on which so great dill
d ference of opinion exists among intelligen
I farmers, as the proper time for cutting, an
ie the best method of curing hay. BY OH
A. we are told to cut when in blossom an
~ cure altogether In the cock. exposing 1t t
- - the sun only a sufficient time to wilt tn
IN leaves. BY another, and perhaps equal
IN successful cultivator, we are told not to Gu
s timothy until the seed Is perfected nc
,Ie clover until the heads begin to turn brown
ut and to cure as quickly as possible by keeI
ed ing the hay constantly shaken up, eithC
=; by turning it with a fork, or by the use
A. a machine invented for that purpose.
ed Unqucstionably, were the weather Will
ar in our control, the best method would /
y to cut the grass when 1t contains the large
~ amount Of nutritive matter in a solub
form, which is found, by analysis, to b