Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-06

We have frequently urged early cutting,
not only because the hay was better and
more nutritious, but also because such ear
ly cutting saved the life of The plant, as ev-
idenced by the green meadows following
while, if deferred to time when the seeds
were formed, we rarely had any aftermath.
In confederation of this, we have now, in
the Vermont agricultural report, an ae-
count Of the practice of Mr.. Amaro Scott, a
merchant of Craftsbury in that State, who,
for several years, has been in the habit Of
having his grass cut and in the barn before
any heads appear; "his theory being that,
II the grass is cut before the seed-stalk COM
mences to shoot upward, the same stalk
that is cut off will continue to grow, in
stead OF starting new shoot from the root,
as Is the case where the cutting is DELAYED
until the seed-stslk is partially or fully de-
veloped. He thus secures an earlier growth
for the succeeding crop" His small farm
is in the highest condition, and produces
in favorable seasons three crops. Scales
are kept on the place, and in conducting
his experiments he weighs his crops, &c.
In favorable seasons he has cut as high as
five tons per acre at the three cuttings,
twenty-five pounds of which, by actual ex.
pertinent, was the amount per day requir-
ed TO keep a large COW in the highest con-
dition, and thirty pounds per day, fed 10 a
pair OF yearling steers, without any other
food, produced an average growth of over
three pounds per day during the entire
winter. In the production of milk and
butter, Mr.. Scott's experiments, here de-
tailed, show this early-cut grass TO be
greatly superior to ordinary hay, as it is al
so in feeding young steers for the mark ct.
A pair of steers, sold at the age of twenty
four months, weighed 26l0 pounds, and
dressed 1890 pounds. Another pair, half
Short-horn blood, 23i months old, weig he'd
2740 pounds, and had made gain during
the preceding twelve months of no less
than 100 pounds per month, and an aver
age growth from birth of ITO pounds per
month. All these cattle were raised ON
skim milk, with hay tea and dried grass
no grain of any kind or roots were led to
any OF them, except the last pair a while
before they were sold. The feeder, being
short of the dried grass, was compelled TO
feed common hay, and, TO keep his cattle
from growing poor, was obliged to feed po-
taioes and meal, but he says that during
this very period his cattle made the slow
est growth.
These experiments and the deductions oil
Mr.. Scott are certainly worth the attention
of intelligent farmers. Two facts having
an immediate bearing upon the subject
and strongly corroboralive of these deduc-
tions, must be regarded as unquestionable
to wit: First, that green grass will iatteu
stock and make the best of beef and nut.
ton; while the best OF hay, as generally cui
and cured, does not, as n general rule
when fed in the most liberal quantities
keep stock from running down in condi-
ton during the winter. The other fact is
that while, as general thing, our mead
ows show a diminished production from
year TO year, even on good lands, on The
same lands the pastures, under proper
management, are found 10 improve will
age. The first fact tends TO prove that oul
hay is not cut early enough to preserve thu
highest nutrilive value Of the grass anC
the second fact tends TO prove that allowing
the grass TO mature before cutting injur
Ously affects the future life Of the plant.
seems TO us that curing grass cut so early
may be attended with difficulty; but, Mr.
Scott says, he generally gets it into cock th,
first day, and into the barn The second, will
favorable weather. AT all events, we re
gard these experiments as worthy of beinj
repeated by our farmers; and whateve
may be the final conclusion, we are salts
fed that it will be found that we must Gu
earlier. National Live Stock Journal.