Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-06-02

The. lime TO Cur GRASS FOR HAY.
As great difference Of opinion exists
on this Subject, it is rather singular
that it is not more often discussed.
The time that grass is cut has a most
important effect on the hay. 1t has
maintained, for instance. by the old
country farmers that grass should be
cut earlier in order to obtain all its
juices. They say the nutriment is
half out of grass when cut late. We
are strongly inclined to think this as
stated, and that many farmers in this
country commit great mistake in
moving too late in the season. This
IL q practical question, and best illus
t.ated by practical examples.
A Mr.. Scott of Craftsbury, VT,
within the past few years, has several
times given, through TIE agricultural
papers, his method of managing his
hay crops. He cuts his grass early,
commencing haying by the middle of
June. and finished 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 in that section have be-
come familiar with his method of
treating his moving fields, and the ia.
vorable results he claims therefore.
A few years ago, Mr. c. Flint,
Secretary Of the Massachusetts, Board
Of Agriculture, visited a number OF
the European countries. The princi-
pal object Of his visit was to study
their agriculture. The results of his
observation are published in his an
ausl. report Of the agriculture of
Massachusetts,, for 1862, ia which he
ssys:
To me previous too seeing this fer
tile country of Lombardy, made fer
tile sholly by its admirable system
Of irrigation the results that I have
frequently read of-seven, eight and
sine cuttings in year-always APP
pe1red chimerical. but after travelling
through the length and breadth OF
the watered district, l am prepared
90 believe that an enormous quantity
Of grass can be cut from it. Anoih.
G. 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 i,
better than We do. | nowhere saw
grass allowed to stand even into
blossom. 1t was cut in a 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 less than four, and
very often, and in many countriee,
cutting grass that our farmers wou d
never think of cutting. So carefully
and So saving are they in all parts OF
the continent, that grass is cut very
green, very often, and very closely to
tie ground, almost universally. But
they often apply a dressing of liquid
manure immediately after cutting
and | saw il in innumerable stances
carried out on the backs of women,
andFHhplied by the slowest possible
process. distributed by band, making
Rn e<;Feme a offensive smell. to b,
slTei Il$osi it wss erst' applied, bur
cai,sing wonderful rapid start and
growth.
A Nr. Horsfali, of England. who /,
celebrated for the quantity and qua
ity Of the butter Obtained from a Civ |
en- number of cows. few years ago.
iuruished 2 long paper on thl various |
lipdsysisfeed given to his experiment
Sc.tsoftc says of his method of ha,
mixing: Till recently I deferred |
Lowing the grass until it was in flow |
er. Lathe year 1886. / cut it before
tie SOxea itinie--Tnough this e~rly !
cUt grass Shrinks more in the stack. |
yeti fad it weighs proportionateIy |
AeaTisE 5JA3 Esa &c
This naethnl-be has since pursued |
bu: bis moving fields are in a high I
F;etsst { cultivation. lie says the av
rrsse Weight OF the first crop OF hay |!
tGtheesd in June, 1896, was two ana
"rve,lyslflaonsl; second crop. gathered
thcSfsSr week in September, 1886. /
one and one halftons. At that time
Ray was worth twenty dollars tor,
mixing Aheatwo croPs worth $50 an
acre.