The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-15
Cutting Hay Early.

Cutting Hay EARLY.
EDS COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.-Th
hay croI is the most important OF all
the crops raised in our New England
states, where inclement winter necessi
tates the housing of cattle. According
TO the census of 1870, there was raised
in the six New England states, 1885,
$50 tons, and in the four Middle States
a02G, $50 tons. In the one state of New
York, where the hay production was
J,6l4, 205 tons, that Of the cereals was
but 20, 81 ,063 bushels, or |, $50, $50 tons.
Ii we lump the cereals at $3.50 BUSH
ell, very large estimate. we can call
their value at S7s, 900, 900, while the
hay crop at SIS is over SS4, 100000.
In New England the discrepancy is
still more, the hay crop being 1886, 500
tons, while the cereals calculated on the
same basis as in the cases of New York
come to but 49, $3.50 tons; or at the
above conjecturally large valuation, we
have the values for hay $50 ,04S 900, and
for cereals so, 100000.
Hence we see the importance the
discussion of the hay crop must period
ically have, as we near the harvest
time. A saving of a dollar ton, or the
loss of the dollar amounts, in the ag-
gregate, to vast sum. If we were di-
rectly taxed to this amount. in addition
to our other taxes, we should esteem it
heavy burden; yet in reality we are
more heavily taxed each year through
our own ignorance and mismanage-
ment. and are slow to reckon the loss.
Hence it is often of service to deal in
aggregates and call attention to facts SO
massed as to present 10 the Imagination
definite idea of what is happening,
and to what extent knowledge may
benefit our practice.
The early cutting of hay has been
very extensively discussed, and it
seems to be universally conceded TO
contain more nutriment in the same
bulk than when over-ripe. OF one
thing we may rest assured--that for
milch cows, larger proportion of early
cut hay is dgeslible than of the over
ripe We may also speak of the advan-
tages derived from hay cured properly
over that which is otherwise.
According to the tables of Wolff, red
clover hay in full blossom contains 1874
per cent. of albuminoids, and when
ripe but "a per cent. Here is loss OF
4 per cent, or so pounds in the ton,
We know not what is the difference be-
tween the albuminoid percentage OF
early cut and ripe hay, but must con.
clude that it is large. For illustration,
however, if ii be remembered that our
figures are for illustration only, we
may assume all our hay crop to be clo-
yer although far from being the case
then the difference between cutting
early and late in New England alone,
in feeding value alone, may be estimat.
ed at | 100000 tons. In other words q
late crop of clover of 8, 1896, 900 tons, il
cut early, wonld be equal in value to
about 5000, 900 tons for the purpose Of
HE farm,
These figures, lie it again mentioned
are not exact, nor do they apply, ex-
rept IA illustrations; but for this pur-
pose even. they are not more startling
Arnold, Il gentleman given to careful
investigation, and who always speaks
with authority. | present the follow
ing, clipped from u newspaper, whose
name have lost:
"Dried grass is considered, by such
good authority as Prof. Arnold, as
worth, pound for pound. as much as
corn meal. At present prices of meal
$50 per ton. dried grass would be worth
500 per ton; while after grass has bios
somed, and is made into what is called
hay. il is not actually worth half tina
price to feed out. What makes driet
grass so much more valuable than hay
is that it is all digestible, while dried
hay is only partially so. This shows
the importance of cutting grass early
before it heads out. Less in bulk ant
weight will be obtained, but its actua
value will be greater, and the LAM
will not he exhausted nearly so much
and on rich land a second or even
third crop will be realized. Glover an,
herdsgrass, on rich ground, might b.
cut three times. cutting each time jus
before the heads appeared. There 1
no question but that ton of grass cal
be raised cheaper than ton of corn
yes, cheaper than half ton of corn
Cut your grass early this year"
Is not this article suggestive enough
to induce farmers to try the experiment
of early cutting? Of one thing an
confident in this connection, and tina
Is, that the weather is more apt TO b.
favorable for hay making in the earl,
part of July, than later. There seem
to be less danger from showers in tn
first half of July than later; while q
for storms, have myself timed la,
harvest by the weather bureau report
with advantage.-[E.L LEWIS STURTE
Want, NJ. ID.
The Hardin MAthod