The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-07-07
Cutting Grass.

1 OhO VI tA0 mOSt lmpOItduJ QuSSllOQS pre-
sented to farmers is: When shall we begia to
cut grass? And good deal of the difference
between profit and loss in farming, depends
upon its correct decision. The proper time for
commencing this important operation ought
not to be decided by the almanac, the day of
the month, or by mere convenience, because
nothing else can be done; or because other jobs
| like hoeing, road-making &c., are all finished
The general discussion of this question has led
to the presentation of new facts and theories
from men of experience and science; and the
conclusions at which they have arrived are
generally satisfactory to intelligent farmers,
practices of our fathers.
1t appears to be satisfactorily demonstrated,
that grass should be cut when in blossom; and
that it is better to cut the first of the crop too
early, than the last of it too late. Admitting
that the matured crop weighs more and spends
better than the early cut grass it is proved that
it has less nourishment, and consequently is of
less value. Maturing the seed and ripening
the stalk OF of large plants converts the tender
and succulent food into hard, woody fibre, and
practically defeats the end in view in raising
the crop. Experienced dairymen assert that
the best milk producing food is grass. or good
hay. When grass is cut early and well cured,
its fragrant aroma, its bright color, and soft
elastic qualities are all preserved in the winter
NOW; and cows thus fed may be properly said
to live on grass the year round. Cows can be
better kept up to even flow of milk on such
feed alone, than upon dry withered hay, even
when supplemented with a little meal. In the
production of flesh, or labor, one cannot see
why similar results would not follow.
On the farms of the present day it is rare to
find clean moving field; that is, one of sure
English grass, free from admixtures of weeds
and worthless grasses and plants. 1t is very
obvious to all discerning minds that such fields
must be cut early, and by SO doing some weeds
may be converted into tolerable hay, and at the
same time, as the seeds are prevented from
ripening, they may be gradually exterminated
So also in almost every field of grass there is
more or less SO stout and rank in its growth
that it lodges badly; prostrated by wind, or
rain, or by its own weight. 1t necessarily fol-
lows from the inevitable exclusion of sun and
air that it this grass is not cut until the whole
field is ripe, much of it becomes mouldy
decayed and valueless. Is it not better to save
the whole by earl y cutting?
Rich land in grass will bear crops every
year, whether the season is wet or dry; and
when in good heart will produce two crops;
early cutting of the first as a matter of course
forwards the second crop, and brings it within
the reach of the summers sun ard thereby it
may be removed in ample season for the after
math to grow sufficiently to afford good fall
feed if desired, or sufficient protection for the
| roots OF the grass during the cold of winter.
Through mistaken economy it not unfre-
quently happens that haying is deferred so late
or protracted SO long that the closely shaven
earth is exposed to the full force of an August
drouth; and thus all hope of fall feed is de-
stroyed, as well as the promise of the next
| years crop. Whenever field of Timothy is
thus treated, it is pretty sure that it will be
| nearly all killed; as its bulbous roots require
especial protection against the heat of summer
and the frost of winter. We imagine that
clover roots are not destroyed wholly by win
ter-killing, but that the mischief begins with
| late cutting in dry time. Although the early
| cut field may not escape unharmed from the
| scorching effect of midsummer droutb, ordi
| narily the growth of new grass will sufficiently
| protect the roots.
| Those persons who are compelled to admit
| the reasonableness of these considerations, and
| yet assert that it is impossible for farmer to
cut all of his grass early, and therefore it is
| about as well to keep on in the old way, are
| usually those who continue to use the scythe,
and are not familiar with the improved i'm
! plemeDts which have not only diminished the
labor. but have shortened the season of hay
| making 1t is the opinion of good judges that
| in good weather grass can be secured now in
less than one-fourth the time taken with the
best of former practices when all was done by
hand. And even in cloudy weather, by the aid
of the horse and tedder, grass may be cured
enough to keep well in tight barns. On aver
age farms there will be diversity enough of soil,
location and seeding to allow farmer of good
| judgment ample time for securing his grass,
before its value is lessened by late cutting
The following sensible article from the Live
Stock Journal. we commend to the attention Of
our readers:
The hay crop according to the last census,
cannot be estimated at less than $4OO, 900, 900,
and this immense aggregate shows the impor-
tance of outstanding the great resource in the
best manner. We shall not overstate the fact
if we say that 25 per cent Of the hay crop is
lost by late cutting. Nature, in her efforts TO
grasses, accomplishes this at the expense of the
nutriment contained in the stalk. In fact, it
may be assumed as true, that at the time of
blossoming, the stalk contains all the nutr-
ment which the seed and stalk contain after
ripening, and therefore that nothing has been
gained by allowing the seed to ripen, unless in
the case of cereal grains which are most valu-
able for their seed. As the seed ripens, the
| soluble food constituents are taken from the
stalk to prefect the seed. Chemical ANALYSIS
has shown that clover just before blossoming
contains only % per cent of inso.uble wood
fibre, but Immediately after blossoming, As per
cent. of insoluble fiber. All experiments tend
to show that our grass crops, intended for fod
der should be cut and cured into hay before
nature has commenced the form alton of seed.
Therefore, the proper time for cutting grass for
hay is at the commencement of blossoming.
There is more sap in it, at this time, and, con
| sequenty, requires more curing; but each ton
| of cured hay is worth at least 25 per cent
more, as nutrment for stock, than after the
seed forms.
Hay is also injured by being too much ex-
posed to the rays of the sun. This causes the
volatile aroma to escape, and also disspates
much Of the coloring matter, as may be seen
by the bleaching, and also by feeding to milch
cows, from which the milk and butter will be
light colored. Here comes in the value of the
hay-cap, which protects the hay-cock from the
rays of the sun, and allows it to cure with the
fine green color preserved.
We write thus early that our readers may
have their attention called to this important
matter in season. 1t is one of those subjects
that seem to require reiteraton more than
almost any other. The farmer is conservative
of old habits. He has heard many say tha.
ripe hay goes further spends better. Yes
and brush would last still longer for fodder
The poorest fodder, undoubtedly, lasts the
lopgest-but not the cattle.