The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-21
Early or Late Cut Grass for Hay.

The proper time for cutting grass for
hay is annually discussed, by writers of
our agricultural press. with increasing
interest. The grass crop being one of
paramount Importance, the question
when, and how best 20 SO save the crop to
serve its intended purpose. becomes one
of absorbing interest, the more it is dis
cussed.
As the seasons roll around. old-time
practices are being changed, for the bet-
ter, as we think. Each year finds that
class of farmers who practice cutting
grass early for hay. increasing in num-
bers, as true agricultural science is dis
semina,ed.
And now We come to the question:
"How early shall we cut our grass to lay
by for winter feed of stock?"
That there is proper mean where
strict economy ia best served, there can
be no doubt. In our daily practice some
poims must be made to yield to some
other points. for it would be impossible
for the farmer, with his varied interests,
to perform all his labors, &C., at the ex
act time when the science of the labora-
tory indicates that his grass, &C., con
tains the greatest amount of certain es-
sential principles; so that in practical
life the individuals best Judgment
founded on experience, observation and
reading, must be brought to bear in de
Gliding.
| 1t is hardly practicable, for farmers
generally, to cut their crop more than
twice the same season, and much moi
more than once; so that each Individual
farmer must make his own election what
principles must be made subservient.-
That early cut grass, properly cured
and saved, is the best and most natnra
food of onr herbivorous farm stock,
think no well-informed person will pre-
tend to dispute. Such being an admitted
fact, its practical adoption should follow
, naturally. But the objector says. 81
| costs too much labor to make hay from
f early cut grass" Perhaps that may b.
, true; but is it true that 1t costs more 4
cure grass than it does to make hay? II
I making hay we are apt to overdo tn
? thug; sill in many instances this seem
E necessary evil from the nature of tn
| h,,il rrh he how 10 ha on oroI
t With tight. properly constructed store
houses and barns, cured grass will kee
Y perfectly sweet and good; whereas i
q many OF the barns Of the country tn
j best made can hardly be kept. 1t woul
v then seem that in connection with th
l. question of early or late cut grass shoul
!, come up this question of suitable barr
and storehonses for preserving our ha
in.
The nutritive properties of grass an
hay, cut at different stages of growt
has been receiving somewhat varied e:
periments at the agricultural schools
:. Germany, and the German papers pu
! lish the details with the following sho'
+, ing: "By an elaborate series of analys
- it is shown why young grass is mo
n nutritious than mature grass. fhe ph
:, siological experiments show that it
so more easily digestible. Thus grass t,
= and a-half inches high contains neai
:. fifty per cent. more of albuminoids tn
!. grass which is six inches high, and I
J.. more of crude fat The mature gr
sk contaias more woody fiber and less fe.
l,o forming matter than the young gra
-. and, besides this, it is found that I
u nutritious albuminoids exist in a
soluble form in hay than in young gra
Hence the difference of nutritive va
~, and digestibility. Autumn hay '
!, found to be more nutritious than su
"a mer hay"
J. With our improved implements a
NO aids for hay-maying, the matter of C
nc ing grass becomes practical and e.
81 task when compared with more anci
usages. Grass, divested of all extrane,
en-.
moisture and matter, will keep in sui
A. BILE buildings; and this Investment, C
,,.: ing, becomes a practical matter. il
.ar limited time, by means of the aid +
a,, dered by the moving machine and
~, tedder. By their use no more tim,
,ho consumed in harvesting green grass +
.ho was formerly demanded for that wh
ing va" WrnHu ,n".".e ~ NJ VIZ TT VI