Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-29

From the New Hampshire Statesman
rhc Time to Cut Grass for Hay.
BY LEVI BARTLhii

Tho above ;s a question on which practi-
90, farmers widely differ. Some strongly
ADVOCATE the cutting of grass before it is
in blossom others say when the grass is
in full bloom; and some say the seed
should be ripe enough to terminate before
the grass is mown.
A Mr.. Scott, of Craftsbury, VT, within
the past few years, has several times given,
through the agricultural papers, his method
of managing his hay-crops. He cuts
his grass early, commencing haylng by
the middle of June, and finishing early In
july. By this method he usually obtains
two crops of the choicest winter forage for
his cattle. His statements have been SO
frequently published that most farmers of
his section have become familiar with his
method of treating his moving fields, and
the favorable results he claims therefor.
A few years ago, Mr.. G. Flint, Secre-
tary of the Massachusetts Board of Agri
culture, visited number of the European
countries. The principal object of his
visit was to study their agriculture. The
results of his observations are published in
his annual report of the agriculture OF
Massachusetts for 1872, in which he says.
To me, previous to seeing this fertile
country of Lombardy, made fertile wholly
by its admirable system Of irrigation, the
results that I have frequently read Of
seven, eight and nine cuttings in a year.
always appeared chemerical but after
travelling through the length and breath
OF the watered district, / am prepared to
believe that an enormous quantity of grass
can be cut from it. Another thing has
impressed me strikingly here, and that is,
that the Italians understand the period at
which grass should be cut to make the
most of it, better than we do. l no where
saw grass allowed to stand even into
blossoming. 1t was cut in very green
and succulent state, when full of its sweet
Young Juices. In hundreds of instances,
perhaps thousands, / saw men and women,
more frequently the latter, moving grass
less than six inches high, often times less
than four, and very often, and IN many
countries, cutting grass that our farmers
would never think of cutting. So careful
and so saving are they in all parts of the
continent, that grass is cut very green,
very often, and very close to the ground,
almost universally. But they often apply
a dressing of liquid manure Immediately
after cutting and l saw it in innumerable
instances carried out on the backs of wo-
men and applied by the slowest possible
process, distributed by hand, making an
extremely offensive smell. to be sure, when
twas first applied, but causing wonder
fully rapid start and growth.
A Mr.. Horsfall, of England, who IS
celebrated for the quantity and quality of
the butter obtained from given number
of COWS, few years ago furnished long
paper on the various kinds of feed given
to his experiments, &c. He says OF his
method of hay-making.
Till recently I deferred moving the grass
until it was in flower. In the year 1856
I cut it before the Towering time. Though
this early-cut grass shrinks more IN the
stack, yet I find it weighs proportionately
heavier.
This method he has since pursued; but
his moving fields are in a high state of
cultivation. He says the average weight
of the first crop of hay gathered in June,
1856, was two and one-half tons. At that
time hay was worth twenty dollars a ton.
making the two crops worth $50 an acre,
In 1856 DR.. Flint, Secretary Of the
Board of Agriculture, issued printed Cir
culars to one or more farmers in that
State. The circulars contained over
twenty questions respecting the hay crop
in ali its bearings Question seventh
was: At what stage of growth do you
prefer to cut grass to make into English
and into swale hay, and what is the reas-
on for your preference" In answer to
this. one of the most intelligent farmers of
Middlesex county says:
/ 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. l have no doubt
hay of the same bulk weighs more if it
stands in the field until the seed forms;
and for this reason some who sell most of
their hay let it stand.
A farmer of Webster county says:
When designed for mich cows, store,
or fattening animals, prefer to cut it In
the blossom; because it makes more milk,
more growth and more beef.
The above reports are similar to those
ola great many other farmers in different
paats of the State. Mr.. Flint says:
These extracts, taken at random from a
large number ofletters from practical far
mers all over the state, indicate very
clearly the prevailing practice. The re-
plies from about $50 towns are: that farm
ers prefer to cut principal grasses; limo
thy and red top when in full blossom; red
clover when about half the heads are il
blossom, and swale grass before it is ripe
and generally before blossoming if posi-
BILE, so as to prevent 1t from becoming
hard and why. This practice is unques
tionably founded on correct plinclple
the object of the farmer being to secure hi
hay so as to make it most like grass il
its perfect condition. From its earlies
growth, the sugar and other soluble sub
stances increase until they reach thei
highest percentage in the blossom, O.
when the seed is fully formed in the cell
From this period the saccharine matte
constantly diminishes, and the woody fbr'
perfectly insoluble in water, and innutri
tious, increases until after the seeds ar
matured, when the plant begins to decay
OF course, if the plant is not cut in flower
great part of the nutriment of its stem
and leaves is wasted.
As far as my dissertation extends, cat
tie and sheep prefer early cut hay, anc
thrive better on it than on the same kind
not cut until the seeds are fully matured
But for the past few years the scarcit.
and high price of labor in hay time ha
prevented many farmers from securln,
their hay crop in season; and it suffer
c,raat locc in lie nutritiye yalue Thou
sands of the old farms in this State are a
present overrun with a short, innutritiv
grass, both pastures and moving fields
In this section it is generally known b
the name of "white-top;" in some other
it is called "wild oat-grass." 1t is tn
danthornia spicata of the botanists.
is an early maturing grass; and if it is CT
as in blossom, cattle eat it freely; but
soon ripens, assuming straw color, an
cattle reject il, II is then worth les