Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-06-26
Uhcn 10 CUt Grass for nay.

in the economy OF the farm, Is when 10
cut grass to make into hay, or at what /
stage of It's growth it is most valuable
for that purpose. This is u point ON
which even experienced farmers differ,
but the weight of authority will be
found strongly for cutting at the time
of Towering. Most practical farmers,
i'm answer to this question say that hay
is swceter, and possesses more nutri-
ment when cut in full blossom than at
any other stage. One of the most in
tellipent farmers of MiddleseX county
says: 81 prefer to cut grass when in
blossom. because it will make more
milk and more fat and cattle prefer it
to that standing later. 1t keeps them
loose and healthy. | have no doubt hay
of the same bulk weighs more If it
stands in the field till the seed forms,
and for this reason some who sell most
of their hay let ii stand \ farmer Of
Worcester county says: When de-
signed for mich cows, store, or fattcn-
ing animals prefer to cut in the bios
som. because il makes more milk, more
growth and more beef For working
cattle and horses, | cut about six days
after the pollen has fallen, because 1t
does not scour or loosen the animal so
much as when cut in the blossom" y
= farmer of Hampshire county says
> " Next to sweet fresh grass, we think
, that rowen will make COWS, working
cattle or horses thrive better than any
other feed, unless in Che case of cattle
- hard at work. We conclude, therefore
: that all hay is best cut early. Coarse
p hay will keep stock tolerably well, cut
| early. which ifa1owed to mature would
: not he eaten at ALL" A farmer OF
= Hampton equity says: " We cut after
8 the blossoms 6egin to fall, and before
s thev have Ill fallen. 1t has more sub
= stance and0eight cut at that time thar
: if cut scorer more sweetness and juice
:, than If cat later A farmer of Berk
Vt shire comfy says /" Oui rule is to GU
l. hay il the blossom, as it is then in th'
II hest state for feeding, less woody an'
1t mun sweeter than later, and leaves tn
e rons in better state tor a second, or an
&c otner annual crop" Another very i'll
5, tallgent practical farmer says: . W.
= cut in blossom, because it is then mos
n palatablc to stock. If allowed to stah
lc much longer there is draft upon tn
+ soil for the growth of the seed, Whic
II is not repaid by the additional value c
e the hay, if, indeed, it is increased i
5, value at all. My opinion, derived from
ST my own experience, is, that the grasse
" viii sooner die out if allowed to stan
r later.u
N A farmer who prefers TO cut all oth6
e. ~rasses when III blossom, says
When English grass is in full bio
som it has all the good qualities II 90
y have, from that time I think il loses i
L Vaiue i'll proportion to The time wbic1
l. II stands. Swale hay should be on
Il rather green. If fully ripe it is har,
n ana dry Another says, s.Wo en-
g about the time the blossom falls rb,
grass is then at its full growth. IF II
) stands much longer the leaves begin +,
uie al me bottom and the grass grow,
tough and hard, and, | think tho longa,
IL stands the less it viii weigh whom
dried. If It is cut much earlier If vii,
SHRINK and dry up, and does not seen, ia
nave 50 much nutriment in 1t. ana T
nave noticed cattle viii eat more in
pulh IMAM when cut at the right ti,ne -
Ohe other extract will suffice. A far
iiicr OF MiddleseX County says: ~ cut
my red clover before the heads bcoon to
.uril brown. When the clover is ,,uit.
HeaVy cut it when only halfthe heads
nave pio9oned, because then cattle will
eat all the stems. Glover is iniurod
more by half when it stands long after
Diossomlng than any other kind. T
ma my clover hay in the barn much
heavier when cut quite early.u
These extracts taken ct random from
!. large number of letters from practical
farmers all over the state, indicate vorv
clearly the prevailing practice. Tba
replies nom about one hundred and fifty I
owns are, that farmers prefer to cut the !
'Iiiicipal grasses, Timothy and red-top :
Fhen in full blossom red clover whom Y
-pout half the heads are In hloeeo,,, c
iiu sWale grass before it is ripe and Y
generally before blossoming. if nossi- :
ne, so as to prevent it from becomino a
ara and Wiry.-Filps 4qyic,titnrn # :, .
''''"p ~ u
lHE PRESIDENTS VTsrTopo M, "a