Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-04

The benefit derived in early cutting o.
grass for hay and the Importance of secur-
ing it in good condition is generally con.
coded and appreciated. Below is an arti
Gle from the National Liue Stock Journal
which we would commend to the careful
attention of such of our readers as may
hold the idea which some may still enter
tain, that hay is most valuable when cut
after the seeds are fully formed.
The item is condensed, as it would APP
pear, from Vermont agricultural report,
in which there is given an account of the
practice of Mr.. Amaro Scott, merchant
of Craftsbury, in that State, who, for sew
eral Years, has been in the habit of having
his grass cut and in the barn before any
heads appeared
elf the grass is cut before the seed
stalk commences to shoot upward, the
same stalk that is cut off will continue to
grow, instead of starting Il new shoot from
the root, rs is the case where the cutting
is delayed until the seed-stalk is partially
or fully developed. 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. etc.
In favorable seasons he has cut rs high
as five tons per acre ut the three cuttings.
% pounds of which, by actual experiment,
was the amount per day required to keep
IL large COW in the highest condition, and
30 pounds per day, fed to n pair of year
ling steers, without any other food, pro-
duced an average growth of over three
pounds per day during the entire winter
In the production of milk and butter, Mr.
SCOTS experiments, here detailed, show
this early cut grass to be greatly superior
TO ordinary, rs it is also in feeding young
steers for the market A pair of steers,
sold at the age of a months, weighed 2,610I
pounds, and dressed 1890 pounds. Anoth-
er pair, half Short Horn blood, at % IA
months old, weighed 2,740 pounds, and
had made gain during the preceding u
months of no less than 100 pounds per
month, and an average 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 fed to any of them, except the
last pair for while before they We're sold. |
The feeder, being short of dried grass, was
compelled to feed common hay, and, to !
keep his cattle from growing poor, was
obliged to feed potatoes and meal but he !
says that during this very period his cattle
made the slowest growth.
The extraordinary forwardness of the
season with the unfavorable weather for
haying which we have had through the
last half of June, brings haying " all in
heap" and unless favorable weather sec
onds the best efforts the farmer can make,
much grass must stand till over.ripe. We
remember Of once hearing Bro. Cheever of
the N. b. Farmer say that, when grass
was ripe enough to cut, he would prefer to
cut it Mt the beginning of a three days
rain" believing it would be injured less
so, than by standing and ripening
Such a time as this we'll illustrates the
lVuldl ho lltuo III lle l. FREEMAN Oh Tile ZUtn
inst, on Farm Tools, for machines could
hardly be dear to the average farmer if
they help secure the crop in good condi-
ton, now when so much grass is ready to
cut and time of such value in securing it.
We have added to our list tedder, and
shall carefully note its work and probable
value as shown by its saving of the crop as
well as the amount of manual labor It'll takes
the place of.