The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-07-08
How Early to Cut Grass.

How Early to Cut Grass.
The Vermont Farmer gives the follow
ing report of the address Of | d. X. Col
Inns of Craftsbury, on THE Grass Crop,
at the meeting of the Board Of Agricul.
ture, at Morrisvllc:
Repeated and careful analyses of diff
ferent kinds Of grass and clover have been
made. shown that they contained the
largest amount of thosehsubstances neces-
sary to the sustenance and growth Of an
imals, at the period when they have near
y reached maturity, or about the time
they are in blossom and consequently it
is recommended by nearly all writers that
grass DO cut at that stage Of its growth.
Now, although this seems to be scientific
and consequently sound doctrine, | am
fully persuaded, in my own mind-both
by my own experience and by that Of 9th.
ers, as well as by the teachings of nature
that it is erroneous and that, in fact,
if we would secure the best results and
the most value from the crop in feeding,
it should be cut at a much earlier stage
of its growth.
admit that, if the nutriment in it is
equally available, or can be appropriated
to as good advantages to the use of the
animal system, the proposition is true
but we must take this latter consideration
into account in order to reach the truth.
This Is the very condition that is usually
omitted. But how are we to ascertain
this fact? | know of no way except by
experiment.
To be sure the chemist may analyzc the
offal, both liquid and solid, that comes
from an ANIMAL and may be able to tell
us exactly what elements of the food con-
sumed have been extracted and used to
build up the frame or sustain the life Of
the animal but he cannot tell by any
analytical test how economically these ell.
ements have been appropriated to the
various uses of the animal system. Let
US suppose, for instance, that two speci.
mems of hay of equal weight are Analysed
and one is found to contain ten per cent.
more nutriment than the other Both
are then fed to the same animal, and the
offal is analysed, aud it is found that in
its passage through the animal all the nu-
triment has been extracted from each
specimen. 1t does not follow, however.
as sure thing, that the animal has been
benefited ten per cent more by the spec
linen containing the greater amount Of ru.
triment. On the contrary, the chemical
ly poorer article may have proved ofmost
advantage to the animal, on account Of
the greater ease with which it is digested
or, in other words, the less amount Of
vital force required to appropriate the
nutriment to the use Of the system.
five vary our conditions somewhat,
and take into account the fact that, though
the two specimens are chemically of equal
value, one of them may be nearly per.
fectly digestible, while the other may be
so combined as to be nearly indigestible,
a large proportion Of the nutriment con.
tanned in it passing off in an undigestcd
state in the excrement, We see more clear.
y still the error we are liable to fall in.
to, if we depend alone upon an analysis
of food for the measure of its economic
, value. AS before stated, careful expert
, ment must determine this point, though
the provisions of nature may give us some
! strong hints.
1t must be remembered that our do
! mestic animals are sustained during oul
long winters in an artificial condition. IL
their natural state their forage is Of &
green, tender, succulent nature, the same
g with which we supply them in summer
: while at pasture. Now need not tel
e any farmer that an animal will gain NOR,
: in frame or flesh, or that a COW will give
more milk, while feeding upon a luxuri
t ant growth of young, tender, sweet gras
] than when confined to diet of dry hay
that was harvested after it had attained
t its growth. All know it to be fact
D All know that their COWS give the mos
D milk and produce the most butter, tina
!. their young animals make most rapit
f growth and wear the glossiest coats whil'
luxuriating upon June feed. Were i
y. otherwise, we might naturally conclud
o that mistake had been made in natur
r by providing their food in this condition
D 1t seems reasonable, then, TO conclud
!. that the nearer in character and qualit,
p we can make our hay to young, tende
y grass, the better it will be. Could we
: without too great expense, cut and cur
it for hay when Dot more than four to 81:
y inches growth had been attained, contln
e uing to do so with each succeeding growt
q through tue season, we should, withou
y question, have it in its most valuable con
# dition. But this is impracticable it in
y wolves too great expense. The question
" then is, how near can we approach thi
II pro6ta6ly? This question, | repeat, ca
s, be satisfactorily answered only by careful
}. experiment.