The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-01
WHEN TO CUT GRAIN.

There is a time to cut grain when the
berry will be the heaviest there is time
to cut it when it will be the brightest;
and time when the straw will be the
brightest ard afford the best feed. Luck
lily, all these advantages may be secured
in the one cutting-at certain point in
the growth This | need not repeat here
is when tue berry is in the dough. 1t
has often enough been written SO, aud is
practiced by many farmers But The
great majority adhere to the old rule.
Even those, many Of them, who have the
conviction that grair should be cut early,
still adhere TO the old system, let their
grain get ripe and the straw dead Fl. only
for bedding use in the stables. Their
loss is considerable in every field where
this is done. They do not see the amount
of loss, nor ever have made an estimate
so they are no wiser thinking the loss is
not great. Why do they not test this
matter carefully and accurately? Why
not take q certain urea Of each and note
what difference there is? But even this
they will not do, though the trouble is
not much Were they to test this they
would find what others have found
great difference with all the varieties Of
grain, in favor of early cutting. They
would find that the grain would cut easier
being more tender in the stalk, after be.
ing cured, partly green in color, equal as
feed when chopped) to some hay that
is made, and better than the hay made
when ripe They would find the berry.
perhaps to their establishment, plumper
aud heavier, and Of course brighter, so
that the grain would not only be better
so feed. but would make better bread bet.
ter seed grain and command a better
price in market There would be no
shelling at harvestings the work would
be done earlier (some ten to fifteen days,
and should the weather be wet at the
time so as to put of the work, the grain
will not suffer so much whereas we're it
left to stand till fully ripe, rain OF two
would leave it in damaging condition /;
the loss in such case is often very great.
Besides, grain fully ripe will readily grow
in the sheaf when exposed to wet much
more readily than when cut in the dough
aud matured in the stock. 1t should be
partly dried on the swath, all outside
moisture off before it is gathered and put
up for cure.
The wheat and rye crops in the Mo-
hawk Valley, just harvested, have suffer-
ed considerably. The cutting was put of
till the grain was ripe, the rains in some
cases putting it of farther, and the wet
weather occurring alter the grain was
stocked, both straw and berry are the
worse for it. Cut in due time. these rains
would have had less injurious effect
There is an excellent crop of oats standing.
The straw is not over heavy, and will
make good fodder il cut in good time and
well cured Let US save this crop, berry
and straw, in good condition, since our
winter grain and hay has suffered from
bad harvesting. The corn crop mus,
also be saved in the same way. The
stalks may be made second only in value
to early cut clover and grass, while the
ear will be the better for early cutting
Shall we wisely save our fodder for mex
winters feed, or shall we suffer scarcity
to overtake US as it did last spring
Remember it is the quality as well as the
amount that is to be considered F.G.