Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-07-07
AGnrCuLTunAL.
The Time to cut Grass for Hay.

This IS a question about which good
practical farmers differ widely in their
views. Some practice moving their grass
as soon as it is headed out, or before.
Others practice cutting their clover when
half Of the blossoms have turned brown,
and the herds-grass is in bloom, while
some lew believe 1t more profitable to let
the grass stand until the seed Is about
ripe. Such late-cut grass, they say.
makes hay that has more heart IN 1t, and
spends better, when fed TO cattle, than
early-cut hay. without here attempting
to decide the question directly, l will
give few facts, connected with vegetable
physiology that may be useful to farmers
a. he sced-bearing plants grown by the
farmer, in common with all other yegeta-
Bile productions. are, from the first move
ments of the germ in the seed up to the
full maturity OF the plant, subject to and
regulated in all their growth by fixed
laws-laws, too, more immutable than
any ever enacted by the Modes and Per
SLAMS. Under ordinary circumstances,
the results and operations of these laws
OF the same. Nature, in the production
OF the cereals-corn, wheat. rye, oats, &C.
has two objects in view; the perfe, ton
ofthe seed for the reproduction and per-
petuity of its species, and the providing
of food for man and animals.
From the early growth Of the plant up
TO the first formation or formulation OF the
seed. the plant is busi,y employed in draw
ing from the soil and water and atmos.
phere the necessary materials required il
the mature and perfect seed. But as the
seed progresses toward maturity, the
phospbates, salts, nitrogen, &c, that
were disseminated through the entire plant
are mostly withdrawn from it, and con-
centrated in the seeds: and when they
are fully ripendd the stems, stalks, leaves,
straw. &C, are much more deficient IL
putritive matters than at the time OF the
Towering of the plant. But as the seed
of the corn, wheat. oats. &C, is the firsl
object of the farmer, and the straw anc
forage of secondary consequence, thu
seed is suffered TO ripen before harvesting
The same or very similar results occur
in the ripening of the seed of the ,ariou,
grasses cultivated for hay. But as il ].
the stems, leaves and neads OF the grasses
that are valuable rather than the seeds. il
is for the interest OF the farmer. and fol
health and thrift of his farm stock. to cut
his grass for hay, at the time ii will yiclc
the greatest at.o cunt Unavailable nutri
ment. At what particular stage Of growth
this precise time is, is a point upon which
farmers differ
flantS, al the time o. UoWeTlng. contain
starch, gum, sugar and mucilage, all o
which are readily digested in the stomach
OF cattle. sheep, horses, &C. and these ar,
all known TO nourish them. In the promo
ton of the seed, the stem and leaves of ou
forage plants are CT, atty exhausted of thes,
essential food products. aud the great bull
which remaids and Is saved for fodder il
chiefly woody fber less nutritiye and
less easily cigested substance.
As far as my observation extends, tn,
advocates Of cutting grass earlier than wa,
the general practice years ago, are Target,
on the increase. The introduce ton o
moving machines, hay-tedders, horse.
Iakes and forks, and hay-caps. has yer,
much expedited the insathering ofthe hay
crops. With the present scarcity Of hell
and the high price of labor, it become,
farmers TO make use of all labor-savlng
implements that will cheaper and hastel
the securing in season of this important
crop. --Netc Hampshire Statesman
native or rfI-