Ellsworth American., 1874-07-16
4arm ann houstbolo
Cut Your Hay Early,

Experience has demonstrated the fact
that dried grass is not unlike dried herbs
That is, that when either are cut and dried
when in blossom, and decoetion made
therefrom, 1t will invariably be stronger
than when the plants have been allowed
to go 10 seed, before being cut. II is an
inevitable law of vegetation that, when
the plant is matured the powers that have
brought 1t into maturity have fulfilled their
mission, they are Withdrawn and dispersed
among original elements The true prin-
cple is to cut the grass a. soon as Il
reaches lis perfect state. and the one best
adapted for feeding purposes. This Is lust
before the starch, sugar and gluten OF the
plant have gone 10 the formation of seed.
or have been converted into woody fibre.
The Intelligent farmer is now well aware
OF the fact OF the advantage of cutting his
grass before the elements named are sp-
propriated by the plant for the reproduc-
ton OF the species. The fact Is. grass
should be cut when the juice is in Il. and
when there is nothing hard or innutritious
in the stalk. Hay made at the right time
Is twice as valuable as the woody product
OF many of our meadows. Prejudice NAV
lead some horsemen to purchase hay made
from grass OF which the seed was fully
matured. Such hay requires that grain
should be fed with it, in order to make Il
equal in all respects to that cured al the
proper time.
A careful series of experiments has
shown that when the grass first springs
above the surface of the earth. the chief
constituent OF its early blades is water. the
amount Of solid matter being comparative
ly triillng; as its growth advances. the dis
position Of q more indurated form of car
bon gradually. becomes more considerable.
the sugar aud soluble matter at first in
creasing, then gradually diminishing, to
give place to woody substance" the sac
charine juices being In the greatest album
dance when the grass Is in full flower. but
before the seed is formed. In hay making.
the value of the Aftermath (the second
crop of grass the same season. must be
considered, and this is much increased by
cutting the grass when In flower and the
meadow is not So likely to suffer from the
heat of the sun. Il is much better to cut
the grass too early than too late
Care must be taken not 10 cut too close
10 the ground in this and more southern
localities. Many fine meadow. have been
n rha laa
for meadows at present are timothy. clover
and red-top. If the clover predominates.
which is frequently the case at the first
moving of new meadow, it should be
cut when about one-third Of the heads are
turned brown. The first cut hay is in
variably the brightes, in color. and most
nutritious in quality, and by most good
farmers is reserved for feeding at the time
when the best hay is needed most. Some
have objected TO the cutting OF timothy,
that is, cutting it when in blossom. as it is
apt TO be dusty. II dusty at all, il would
originate from the pollen of the blossoms.
and would be harmless a. a matter of
course.
IL ieicichSc " SuIltie nay iIulOliy cut
in the morning of 4 clear day can usually
be got in before night and be sufficiently
cured; that is, where the yield is not more
than ton and halfto the acre. Ii. how
ever, the yield is much greater or should
the Weather be somewhat cloudy, with no
prospect Of rain the following night. the
hay can be thrown into heavy windrows
and be allowed TO remain until the follow
ing day. II likely to rain. It must be
cooked up. Ii clover, that cut in the
morning should be put in small cocks in
the evening, and after three or four days.
it should be transferred TO the NOV or
stack. An addition of two or three quarts
of salt to every ton will not only improve
the quality, but will counteract the tend
ency of clover to heat and subsequent in
Jury. Previous to setting about haying,
the tools should all be put in perfect order.
bolts examined, stack bottom built, and
everything possible done to obviate mo-
ments delay in the haying season. Rural
World.