Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-06
Early-Made Hay.

While majority of our best farmers
know from experience that early-cut
grass or clover makes better hay than
when allowed to stand until ripe or APP
preaching ripeness, still there are com
paratively few who begin sufficiently
early to secure their crop of hay in the
best possible condition.
The scarcity Of good hay in our mar
kets shows palmer than words to what a
fearful extent procrastinatiOn in hay
making is practiced throughout the en-
tire country. Bleached, Overripe, straw
like stuff is the rule, while green, juicy
and fragrant article is the exception; and
all this comes from a delay of haying. 1t
is true that we have a few men left
among us who as an excuse for their al
most worthless hay will assert that they
don't believe in cutting grass early"
! but this same class Of men would declare
! that they did not believe the world re-
volved if by it they could escape some
duty. 1t is too late in the day to con
slider any Of the arguments that were
formerly brought forward in discussing
the subject of cutting grass early or late,
for science in agriculture has long ago
settled the question in favor Of early cut
ting. The woody fiber developed in the
{
ripening of the seed is of very little more
value as food for cattle than the woody
fiber Of a Eastwood tree; consequently
they should be gathered, if designed as
food for stock, before this ligneous
change took place.
The low, marsh grasses are usually
somewhat later in coming to maturity
than those upon upland; but as rule
the cutting is deferred far too long, as
their rich, deep green cOlOrs mislead the
farmer, and he may think they are still
tender long after the succulent stages
are past. Passably good hay may be
made from the common wild grasses
growing in low, wet meadows if they
are cut very early, but most of the species
become very woody and indigestible if
allowed to mature.
The proper time, OF perhaps we should
say the latest time, at which any kind of
grass or clover should be cut in order to
make the best of hay is when in full
bloom, and we would prefer to com
mence little earlier than to be little
too late.
There are other important considera-
lions to be taken into account besides that
of making good and nutritious food for
stock, in thus advocating the early cut
ting of the Clovers and perennial grasses,
the most noted Of which is the effect
upon the roots remaining in the earth.
Florists will tell US that they can take
any of the most tender annual plants
and make them live several wears, simply
by not allowing the seed to mature.
This same system of culture changes
the biennials to perennials, and all
through the prevention Of the exhaust
i've process of seed producing and ripen-
ing of the same. But the reverse Of
this may in some instances be produced
by injudiciOus management, as, for in
stance, our common red clover is natu-
rally perennial plant; but on light,
rather poor soils if permitted to ripen
its seed, it will die the second year, or, in
other words, becomes biennial When
ever a farmer finds that his red clover
dies out after haying he may rest assured
that his land is too poor to sustain this
plant or he deferred the cutting too long.
If clover is cut when the first flowers ap-
pear, the roots will seldom fail to put
forth a new and Vigorous growth and
withstand the cold Of the ensuing winter
without injury. This has been our ex-
perience in locality where red clover is
considered biennial plant. The effect
of early or late cutting can readily be de-
tected with any of our native or intro
duced species of grass, but is probably
more conspicuous in timothy or herds
grass (phIeunl DTdtense) than in any other,
owing to its peculiar form of root, it
being a bulb with small rootlets growing
from the lowermost point. The old bulb
dies after the stem and seed mature, and
new ones spring from near the
base, drawing their sustenance in
part from the parent bulb as
well as from the soil through
the roots The common tuberose is a
plant which propagates upon a similar
plan, but being so much larger its char
acteristics are better known. The bulbs
may be two or three years in attaining
size and strength sufficient to bloom, but
when the latter appears it is for once
only, as they never bloom again, the re-
manning strength of the old bulbs being
appropriated by small offshoots attached.
The same rules apply to the grass known
as timothy, hence it can readily be IN
derstood why early cutting will be less
exhaustive than late or after the seed
has matured.
Every vegetable Psychologist will tell
us that seed production is the one great
exhaustive process in the life of all
plants, and in many kinds it is closely
followed by death, and knowing this the
farmer should strive to avoid it wherever