Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-07-04
Making Hay.

lie 0Iu saw WHICH Tells llle 1dTlner
to "make hay while the sun shines"
does not 90 far enough in the way Of
advice, for much poor hay is made in
the best of haying weather. A man
canuot make good hay out of poor ma
terial; consequently, he must not only
have some good plant to begin with,
but must cut it at the proper stage of
its growth. The best of timothy ana
red-top, or any of the clovers, if al
flowed to stand until ripe and the
leaves drop, are worth little more for
hay than SO much rye straw; and it is
to the importance of cutting hay early
that we wish to call especial attention.
There is never too much fodder saved
anywhere for the use Of stock in win
ter; but there is vast quantity gath
cred which is almost worthless, because
the operation is delayed until the plants
are past their best.
Havmaking consists essentially in
eXpelling the moisture from green
heritage cut in a succulent stage, and
it ought to be so conducted as to expel
nothing but water, while retaining as
much of this as will secure the per-
feet conservation of the hay. If too
large quantity of moisture is re-
tanned, fermentation, followed 10y
deterioration Of value, results. The
best time to cut crop for hay is
at the moment of completion of growth
in the stature Of the plalt, when the
formation of seed has commenced. If
the operation is delayed, the stem be
gins to Lightly, or become woody, and
the most important nutrient principles
are absorbed by the seed, which is gen
orally lost by falling out, becoming
scattered during harvesting or while
the hay is being fed out to the stock.
The agricultural chemist, as we'll as
our most thorough scientific farmers,
have long since demonstrated the fact
that all plants designed for dry forage
should be cut early, that is before the
seed is formed. and while both the
leaves and stems are IN a soft, Succu-
lent condition. We believe this point
is so well settled that none but the
most ignorant of our farmers would
advocate delay of haymaking beyond
the period named; still. through want
OLA prope. system of management,
hundreds do not get ready to enter
their hay-helds until the season is so
far advanced that making good hav is
out of the question; and we think it
would be no eXaggeration to say that,
through neglect to gather in time, the
hay crop of the United States is less
ened in actual feeding value 20 per
cent loss to the country Of mill
ions of dollars annually. This waste
of material is so widely distributed
that it is scarcely felt by individuals;
still, it is one of the great leaks which
help to keep our farmers poor.
1t is not alone in the deprecated
value of the hay crop that the effect or
late haying is seen: for another fact,
which has also been fully demonstra-
ted, is, that the production of seed of
plants is an exhaustive process in it.
self, and with the exception of two or
three species of grasses. injury to the
roots and general loss Of yigor follow
LATE gathering of the crop. In other
words, meadows last longer if the hay
is cut early than if left until the seed
has formed, and second growth of
heritage is more sure to follow. Any
one who has sown rye or oats for soil
ing purposes knows that, if mown be-
fore the heads Lave fairly formed, two.
three or more good cuttings may be
secured during the season, from the
original roots; but let the grain be-
come fairly formed, and one cutting
will be sufficient to kill the plants.
The same principles hold good in the
management of the perennial grasses
of our meadows and pastures. and it
would be well for every farmer to con-
slider them while making preparation
for haying the present season.
In many parts of the country there
are large tracts OF swamp lands, COW