Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-08-05
Chemistry of Hay Making.

e Inc succulent grasses that clothe our field
, with verdure are very insignificant yeoeta HI
t growths IN contrast with the forest tree
whose huge trunks rise up from the hillsd
and the plain, and darken with their dens
foliage, unnumbered acres of our f.rt;1,
lands In the tiny stalk and leaves of tn.
timothy, clover, red-top, &c. there are rict
juices circulating which have been dra VIZ
from mother earth. These Juices are the
very pabHlum OF life, and from them, indi
rectly, We draw our sustenance If we sinh
Ject TO chemical analysis these grasses We
siaH md them to contain all the essential
elements of animal growth But it is not
our intention to follow this line of tbouobt
however pleasing or attractive it NAV be. We
WISH 10 make few brief observations unon
the chemistry of curing hay.
e14Asofiy o e.aporatfve PROCESS - : al
WIN succulent vegetable substances 1vha9
the sait-maker does with his saline Iv.td l-a'
OF OF the sugar-mak er with his saccbarine ;,,ioa'
ny o2jec. is to drive off surplus wators
winch hold the valuable PRINCIPLES in 49,
eioh 70 get rld OF worthless and interfar;n'.
T Instances and retain all the desira HE ona1e
baa+ - si MAKER may apply too intense
an od' h VI ulrect hame to his evaporating pans
ana ourn or spoil his products 50 tho t Us
er may heat his hay too much in tho L, arm
rays or the sun, and greatly iniure tho r;nSS
nutrient principles upon which its vaIra a.
Pends. Certain 1t Is, we cannot controI ~,
the conditions upon which the prodnctior, az NJ
perfectly, cured hay depends but we On na ui
control theIn much more decidedly than We
10 "a ION Oh well-cured or properly dried
nay is worth more in the NOW than ~, tnns
II that which is cut at an improper time and
'ured IN an improper manner.
urass Is not generally cut early enough in
ne season. The sugar, the gluten, and :
tarch, are In the best condition for preserv-
n.y. before the ripening of the seed com :
nence'- The great end and aim of plant life =
!, To reproduce itself,-to perfect its seed :,
ne periods OF 1nfiorescence and seed-bearino =
nc attended with large expenditure Of !
ostly material The DEVELOPMENT of tho 4
over to blade of timothy, is a very diff
MT affair to that of one of the green leaves
ne former contributes nothing to the ,ener "a
l maintenance of the plant: the Ja9ter 10
lou,h' stomach, and lungs. Just preyious ,,
towering the vegetative power is most =
~ ana large quantities of starch az e al
. . nooae ea, up ready for use wbsL -.e press la
emendous struggle Uakes place in the plant, Ms
hen the nutritive principle is dissolved by he
e aid of diastase, and transferred to the W.
ed. As soon as it is over, signs of exhars- r,
IN appear, and the plant dies The time to so
t grass is before this eliminating point is <,
ached, when the nutritive principle per- an
des every part of the stalk and leaf. ~;
Grass in geaeraily dried too much. The "
neous part becomes hard and tough. and no
lmals do not like it any better than we a.
e over-baked bread. The nutritive nor La La
ms are not SO readily eliminated, and the M
ste is much greater in passing through '''
assImilating organs. 1t is not necessary
dry hay SO thoroughly, in order to pre-
We 1t from putrefactive change in the NOW. VIC
the weather is clear and warm, 1t NAV Tn
ely be stored the same day it is cut. nro. of
ed 1T is not cut in the early morning. while ant
led with dew. eee