Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-20
Miseellaneous.
THE HAY CROP.

man himself. Of the grain crop we inn
port largely, but we have surplus of
nay, winch has always found demand,
both abroad and at home. Thousands of
tons have been formerly sent into the
Southern States, where the soil, under
proper culture, would produce two or
three tons to the acre. And yet, Southern
planters have had very little land devoted
to this important crop. More recently
however, they have discovered that most
grasses flourish on their soils, especially
those which are dressed with mari, vast
pits OF which exist in various localities,
or where some of the phosphoric fertiliz-
ers are used. An incident occurred, how
ever, several years ago in North Carolina
which attracted the attention of planters,
and probably had a wide influence in in
introducing more general culture of the
| grasses.
An observing gentleman had been in
| vited to deliver an address before an ag-
ricultural association which was to hold
its meeting in the city of Raleigh. With
his written address in his pocket, he ar
rived at the city quite early in the morn
ing, and on going to his hotel noticed sew
eral drays heavily loaded with bales of
hay on their way from vessel to warehouse.
On passing through the market-place, af-
ter breakfast, he found plenty of New
England hay on the stand for sale. Upon
inquiry, he learned that large quantities
OF northern hay were annually brought to
the market, and there found ready sale
at an average price of about $50 per ton |!
Ashamed OF practice so common
among the planters, of not producing their
own hay, and which he had, perhaps,
been influential in perpetrating, he thrust
his written address into the bottom of his
valise, and devoted the remainder of the
time to writing new one, for the follow
ing day. In this he clearly unfolded the
favorable conditions of their own soil and
climate for producing the grasses for hay
crops, and the facilities for enriching the
soil. He then presented the statistics of
importation, and the annual cost to the
Southern States for hay exported princi-
pally from New England, and closed with
| scathing rebuke for the neglect of the
valuable opportunities which they might
enjoy. From that period, and especially
quite recently, an increased breadth of
land has been devoted to grass crops in
the Southern States. Still. however, we
are informed, that pressed hay is quite an
important article of export from our sea-
ports, and that some portion of it finds its
While we are thankful for an open mar
ket for the surplus products of our farm,
we still think the policy of our Southern
friends in neglecting the cultivation of
grasses about as wise as that suggested
by some of our people to neglect the cul-
ture of the Indian corn crop here. Where
the soils are suitable, let each section cul-
tivate both
The season of our hay harvest is near at
hand, and Notwithstanding the untold
amount of experience which has been
gained in the matter, considerable di-
versty of opinion still exists as to the best
modes of curing and preserving it. As its
value depends very much upon the time
when it is cut, it is worth while to give
special attention to this point The true
answer to Il single question, would be all
that is necessary to settle it,
The great effort of nature is in animals
and plants, to continue their kind. All
sacrifices, and difficulties of every sort,
will be encountered, and overcome, if
possible to accomplish this end SO it is
with plants. Cut them down in the midst
of their vigor; trample them in the dust;
deprive them of moisture, or shut them
out from the suns rays, and they will still
struggle to throw out u single branch in
| order to perfect single seed, if that is all
| they can do. This is the effort which the
grasses are constantly making; for which
| they attain height, in order to come to light
| and air; throw out blossoms and pollen to
| fructify each other. Then the seed is form
| ed, at the time when the plant has gained
| its most vigorous growth, and is nearest
| perfection. The stem and leaves are ten
der, juicy and rich in nutriment. Now,
l tbA,, ,ut ttat - s.,et
| as the seed is formed. After this, all the
energies of the plant are devoted to the
| perfection OF. the seed that must be taken
care Of To accomplish this great
| change takes place. All the nutriment
| which the seed needs is sent there, and
most of the sugar and strach-the impor-
| tant qualities which we wish to retain
| are changed into woody fibre, in order to
strengthen the stem, to hold up the seed
to the air and light, until the seed is per-
fected. This is illustrated in the stem of
the cabbage, which grows hard as the
plant grows older, and the radish is so
tough and solid if left to blossm, that it
becomes entirely unfit to eat
We are told upon good authority, that
one hundred pounds of timothy hay con-
tains between two and five pounds of a
peculiar oil. This, we suppose, is what
gives that delicious fragrance to well-cured,
early cut hay. In the blades and stems
there is much sugar and starch, and Pc
culiar gum. In grass cut when just going
out OF blossom, we save all these valuable
properties; the very properties that give
rich flow of milk, lay fat upon the OK,
or ensure rapid growth to young stock.
AS the grass ripens, these qualities are
| gradually changed into woody or cellular
fibre, and the sugar and starch its various
parts contain are correspondingly dimin-
ished.
| 1t is we'll ascertained, also, that the
weight of hay is less when allowed to
ripen, so that we get larger quantity. as
well as a better quality of hay, by early
cutting, and the land will not be so much
exhausted.
1t is urged by some that no loss is made
by leaving the hay to be cut after the seed
has ripened; that which we lose onsthe