Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-19
CUTTING GRASS AND MAKING HAY.

Although this subject has been discussed
for long time, as much as any other pertain
ing to farm economy, it is hardly threadbare,
for there is still difference of opinion as to
time and method of cutting and curing in
order to get the best results from hay. Ger.
tain it is, however, that great change has
taken place in the minds of a vast number of
farmers, in regard to the time of cutting
grass, within quarter of century. For a
long time, the common practice was to allow
the grass to stand until portion of the seeds
were ripe, and could be rubbed out of the
head and the reason alleged for allowing the
crop to become thus mature was, that the hay
would 20 farther in feeding that it would last
longer, or, as it was sometimes expressed,
"spend" better. There is no question that it
would take longer to feed such hay out, but
the idea that it was, therefore, more valuable
has been discarded. The majority of farmers
have since learned what few we're not slow
in discovering, that the woody fibre possesses
no nutrition, and is of little use except in
giving bulk to food and that over.ripe hay
has parted with large percentage of its nu.
tritive principles. Grasses attain their full
development when in flower, and they then
contain the highest percentage of valuable
materials, such as starch, sugar, and accesso-
ries, as we'll as nitrogenous compounds, thus
combining, at that period, more nutriment for
sustaining animal life than at any other time.
Intelligent observation in practice, as we'll as
accurate analyses, have proved that in the
transformation from flower to matured seed,
the starch and sugar of the plant are largely
converted into woody fibre, and this, as mat
ter of course, lessons its value. 1t is, there
fore, simply question of the value of woody
fibre as compared with starch, sugar and veg
etable oils and acids, in building up and sus-
tanning the animal economy; and the idea
that hay cut over-ripe, will last longer than
that cut when the grass is in flower, (Which is
still held by an individual here and there)
loses its force. The time to cut, therefore, is
that period when the grass contains the max
imum of nutrition, and this point, as we have
said, has been ascertained to be when the
plant is in flower.
But curing hay probably is quite as impor-
tant, if all of the nutritive properties it con-
tains are secured, or as nearly so as possible,
as is the proper time of cutting it. 1t may
be said, without risk of much debate, that
this matter receives less attention among
farmers, generally, than it ought to, or than
its importance deserves. 1t hardly need be
said that the process of curing is one which
requires judgment and skill, for it is we'll I'm.
derstood that to be of value, hay must not be
allowed to lie too long after it is cut before it
is turned, and then put either into cocks, or
the stack, or barn. The point to decide is,
when the grass is cut, how to cure it so as to
evaporate a necessary quantity OF moisture to
secure its preservation, and retain the largest
portion of its nutritive properties. The old
method-and the one which a majority follow
vets to expose it to the action of the sun
and the mosphere-turning it in the swath
so that both sides may be cured alike-untiI
it has become fit for storing. BUTT has come
to be understood, by no inconsiderabe num-
Der of our best farmers that in this rapid pro-
rress of drying, the hay parts not only with
considerable percentage of its moisture, but
with portion also of its nourishing constitu,
ents. Herein is the fine art, so to speak, OF
curing hay to arrest the loss of sugar and
etarcE, or their change into woody fibre, just
at the point where it is safe to put the hay
into the baru. The practice of many is to
expose it but short lims TO the sun and at
mosphere, put it into cocks, and in that way
permit the heat generated by mentatiol IA
dry it sufficiently to store in the NOW, being
satisfied that it thus retains more of its nutrl
tious Juices than when dried thoroughly il
the sun.-Western Rural.