Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-08
NO. 1877.
HOW l LEARNED 70 CUT GRASS.

At the meeting of the Vermont Dair ymen's
Association, held last winter at Essex juno
ton, Mr.. Waite, Of st Lawrence county,
N. T., who evidently has had more experience
as practical, thinking farmer, than % q wri-
ter of.poetry, made some excellent remarks
on the subject of "When to cut Grass." Fod-
der of all kinds, he claimed, should be cut
when 1t Is young, tender and juicy. He was
sorry to find 30 many farmers welded to the
old ways and customs of the past. Their old
habits stick closer than . brother. If they
would study nature, they would find that they
cannot keep cows for any length of tune in
healthy, lively and productive tcondi.ion, un.
less they are fed on green food, or that which
was cut in green state. No skill of man
can restore plant death to plant life, or fad
substitute for the chemical condition of youth.
He favored the use Of roots for stock, but
considered steaming unnecessary if the fod.
der Is cut at the proper time. He closed his
remarks by reading the following original
and amusing statement Of his experience and
views, which was very happily received.
1t was published at the time in the st. Al
bans Messenger, but we thought it as well to
keep it fresh for our readers just as the clover
is coming Unto the red."-New England
| Farmer.
HOW LEARNED TO CUT GRASS.
Pm not the greatest thinker under the sun,
But think there's a way some things should be
dene;
The idea came to me one morning in June,
When everything proved to be just in tune.
Twas not poets song, nor novelists dream,
But simply the way that things were made to seem;
It seemed to he the greatest failure ofmen,
In not understanding the hoW and the rhen.
Tis the easiest thing in the world to know,
II you figure, reason, and think as you go;
If reason is nonplussed to know what to do,
Then animal instinct will pilot you through.
For instinct sometimes-fI I say it, what then?
Has taught the cow more than reason has men.
Brother farmers l'll tell you and tell you true,
Why reject the old way and work the new.
Said things to me one day. what put 1t N your head,
dead?
Said l, in conceit, with much ignorance hid,
| It's the good old way-the way my father did.
And really can't see the point, indeed
Why you should seek TO cut them before they seed,
Said things again to me, you fool. what's the use
What's the stun good for, sir, without any juice?
began to see, when my eyes opened wide.
That was on the ebb and flow OF the tide;
Instead of progression's deep, mighty ocean,
Twas the great sea OF habitual notion.
Said /, a little chagrined, perhaps you're right,
But Pll never give 1t up without more light.
Thus twas, asked an epicurean COW;
knew she didn't understand the when or how.
But by her instinct keen thought she could tell
And her signs knew, and understood very well
So brought some grass and clover ripe with age,
And laid them down before the instructive sage.
Likewise some clover and grass of living green,
And the look she gave me you ought to have seen,
AS she told me plain with a toss Of her head.
That she loved the clover best when In the red.
The longleaved grasses she said,. stamping her
feet
She loved best when tender, and juicy and sweet;
by her flow Of milk, and by her shiny coat,i
She will tell you most dearly she loves the green
oat.
And with the knowing look she had all over,
While feeding on the green oats. grass and clover
| She said, 'were the farmers mind to cater,
I'd teach him. the first thing, the laws of'natar.'"
Thus, but from the instinct of a COW, alas,
learned the great secret-the time to cut grass;
And you would laugh to hear the things said ofme,
While was cutting it, busy as q bee.
One said, why John can't see into his thought,
He'd not cut my grass il he'd cut it for naught.."
| Some asked, ais he foolish, or crazy, or mad ~
And the Irishman said, Hes crazy, 'bedad'"
Now there's one word more, by way Of advice
To those who are not over wise or precise,
'Tis move with the times but II they move too slow,
And you get q "tip-top" chance to go by-go.