The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-06

| One objection often made to keep
ing land permanently in grass is
that weeds come in and crowd out
the grasses. This is only true in
neglected fields, as is shown by the
following:
In u report ofLawes and Gilbert,
the most celebrated English exper-
imentcrs, they arrive at this general
result; "Thdt those manurcs which
much increased the produce Of hay,
at the same time very much increased
ITS proportion Of graminaceous herb
age" often changing the relative
Quantity from rs per cent to 81 per
cent. BY the above they mean that
the true grasses crowd out the weeds
when the land is highly MANFRED.
There are n few weeds that are not
diminished by manuring, but the
most of them arc diminished. Lawes
and Gilbert made some very inter-
esting experiments with different
manures on permanent meadow
land.
In addition to the above, I wish
to briefly refer to another remark
able point. AT great labor and ex-
pensc they tried similar pieces of
meadows with different fertilizers.
The change in relative proportion
of plants in the meadow was very
striking.
BY irrigation, in England, it has
been found that some grasses in
crease, others decrease; that Sarge
and nutritious herbs in pastures
are destroyed by irrigation, their
place being supplied by the best
grasses" Docks and few others
are an exception to this rule.
One great cause of deterioration
of meadow land the English have
fully learned, that is, "by allowing
grass to get too old before cutting"
This not only makes the hay of
poorer quality, but it weakens the
plants. This fact cannot be too
strongly impressed upon farmers
everywhere. This principle is well
understood and practiccd by the
gardener. He knows that his plants
will grow larger and last longer if
he pinches the flower buds off, or if
he prevents them from going to seed.
We can prolong the life Of nearly
every herb by preventing it from
seeding. Wheat may be made to
last another year beyond its usual
time if the flower-stalks are kept
cut back. Nothing is more trying
to clover than to permit it to 60 to
seed. The earlier hay is cut, the
better for the strength and longev-
ity of the plants. Among our far
mers there is still difference of
opinion as to the best time to cut
grass for hay. Most of them be-
lievc it is best to NOW when the
plants are in blossom, but many of
them wait longer. l have just Civ
en- well-established rule, that for
the good of the plant, cut before
the flowers appear. In the Ameri-
can Agriculturist for 1875, page
213, Prof. w. o. Atwater gives the
latest conclusions of the chemist on
tho proper time to cut hay: at
depends LIST, upon the feeding of
the crop gathered; I'd, upon the val
NC of the aftergrowth; 3D., upon the
value of the roots and stubblc left
to enrich the soil for another CROP"
He says: ave are forced to the
conclusion that, as far as the feed
ing value of the crop is concerned,
the most profitable time for harvest
ing clover is little before the per-
iod of full blossom. The expert
mcnts upon other grasses have not
been as extensive, but so far as they
have been made, as well as from
analogy, we may adopt the same
conclusions" And he adds: "These
results, obtained by positive science,
agree with the experience of the
most observing, intelligent, practi-
cal men," Another thing: if we
cut early, we save more time for the
second growth for another moving
or feeding. The whole of the arti-
Gle referred to is worthy of careful
study.
l am not chemist, nor have /
made careful experiments to find
the best time to cut hay; but in an
address, January, 1872, printed in
the Report of the Michigan Board
of Agriculture, on theoretical
grounds, with some observation, l
stated that grasses should be cut
earlier than is the practice with
most farmers,-a lille before the
plants vere IN fower. Several rea::
sons arc there given, some of which
are the same as now given by Prof.
Atwatcr.
Again and again the best English
farmers have proven that it pays to
drain wet land for the grasses. We
have often seen the same thing done
in different parts of this State, al
ways with good results. Such fields
stand the drought better and yield
more and better feed. The scdges
die out. There is always an i'm
proyement, Notwithstanding the
fears and cautions expressed before
ditching. / cannot hear of a pas
turc anywhere which has been in
jurcd by tilling. l never expect
to.
Mark eff