Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-07-06
'2Eericir[flrral Department
HAVING.

Owing to the backwardness of spring
and the very wet weather, farmers this
season have all on their hands they are
able to attend to. Hardly have the crops
been got into the ground before it is
necessary to attend to their cultivation,
and very limited time will be allowed
for this, so as not to interfere with hay
ing. While it is extremely essential
that proper cultivation of the crops
should be secured, it is no less import
ant that we be in readiness to secure our
hay when the proper season arrives. 1t
would seem from present indications that
it would not be advisable to commence
quite so early as last year. The season
thus far has been excessively wet, with
but comparatively small amount of
sunshine, consequently grass is very
green and succulent, with little of ma
turity about it, and will need to stand
little longer before cut than in dry
season like last year.
But the opinion is becoming more prev
alent every year that grass should be cut
early for hay, and that thus secured in
good condition, it is much better for cows
and we might add, for young stock and
sheep, if not for horses.
The idea that grass should stand I'M
til the leaves become rusted, the seed
ripened, if not shelled, and the stalks
turned to woody fibre before being put
into the barn, is too absurd to be enter
tanned by any intelligent farmer. At
this stage, the crop could be more easily
secured as it would need but little dry
ing, it would fill up a barn fast from its
bulky condition, giving the appearance
OF large yield and might spend well
from the fact that stock would have lit
tie relish for such fodder, but in spring
when the results became to be determin
ed in the condition of the animals eat
ing this hay, and the quantity and quail
ity of milk given by the cows, this will
give the conclusion to the whole matter.
and cannot fail of being proof positive
OF the loss sustained by pursuing such
course in comparison with one of an op-
posite character. If any one is in doubt
about this matter let him solve the ques-
ton for himself by trying both methods
OF feeding early and late cut hay to
separate animals, and note the results.
Let every man be fully pursuaded in
his own mind after careful Investigation !;
and we will add here an instance or two
that confirms us in our belief that early
cut hay is best, transporting the past sea-
son.
Last year we cut q small piece of grass
very early, before it was fairly headed
out, in order to test new moving ma
chine. AS it was put by itself in the
now, when it was fed to COWS in spring.
1t caused considerable increase in the
yield OF milk, showing plainly its supe-
rIorlty for this purpose over ordinary
early cut hay.
Last year we had quite field of clov-
er cut down in a trial of mowers. Ii
was fine growth and some thought ii
should have stood week longer, to be
In the best condition. Bad weather fol.
lowed, and it was about week before il
was secured. The balance of the fielc
was cut week later in good weather
Notwithstanding the first was badly
washed by the rain the COWS preferred i
to the other, and it gave the best results
Last winter farmer expressed his opin
Ion to us that he considered early GU
hay best for cows giving milk, and late
for ox-feeding in winter to the same
when dry, as it would keep them in bet
ter flesh. Since then he has found GU
that he was mistaken; that early Gu
hay is better for both purposes, and so
we think, will every one who fairly in
vestigates the matter.
Some may wish to inquire: cat wha
stage we would cut grass in order t
have 1t produce the most satisfactory re
suits 2" As near when in full blossom
as might be but as all our hay cannot b
secured at this stage, would commenc
before this time rather than have a par
OF the crop remain on the ground to
long; and We would put that secures
hrst' If good quality, by itself for sprin
use.
1t will cost more to secure crop O
hay early than late, but we have see
grass remaining until in our estimatio
1t has lost In quantity and quality botE
sufficient to have paid for cutting it cal
ly, twice over. After a certain STAG
grass will deteriOrate rapidly, hence til
necessity of being prepared to secure
as nearly as possible at the right time.
We have considerable land that wit
proper attention is capable of producin
two crops of grass annually, and IL
earlier we can succeed it securing Il
hrst, the better are the chances for Il
second If any fields are infested viii
white daisies, these should be haryestt
early, while in blossom, if possible
the loss in letting them stand until ri,
is two-fold, the shay" will be hard
worth feeding, and the risk of seedir
the farm with a pernicious weed, great