The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-06-28
Early Having

We have frequently urged early cut
ting, not only because the hay was bet
ter and more nutritious, but also because
such early cutting saved the life of the
plant, as evidenced by the green
meadows following; while, if deferred to
a time when the seeds were formed. we
rarely had All aftermath. In corrobora-
ton of this, we have now, in the Yer
mont agricultural report, an account Of
the practice of Mr. Amaro Scott, a mer-
chant 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 if the grass is cut before the
seed-stalk commences to shoot upward,
the same stalk that is cut off will con-
tinue to grow, instead of starting new
shoot from the root, as 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 -seasonshe has cut as high
as five tons per acre at the three cuttings
% pounds of which, by actual expert
ment, was the amount per day required
TO keep large COW in the highest condi.
ton, and 80 pounds per day, fed to a pail
OF yearhng steers, without any -Other
food, produced an average growth OF
over three pounds per day during the en-
tire winter. J. In the production of milk
and butter, Mr.. SCOTS experiments
here detailed, show this early-cut gras:
to be greatly superior to the ordinary
hay, asst isalsO in feeding young steers fol
the market. A pair of steers, sold at the
age of "a months, weighed 2.6I0, pounds,
and dressed, $50 pounds. Another
pair, half shorthorn blood, at 80 months
old, weighed 2,740 pounds, and had
made a gain during the preceding y
months of no less than 100 pounds pei
month, and an average growth from
birth of 10 pounds per month. All
these cattle were raised on skinned
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
awhile before they were sold. The feed
er, being short of the dried grass, was
compelled to feed common hay, and to
keep the 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.
These experiments and the deductions
of Mr.. Scott are certainly worth the at
tention of intelligent farmers. Two
facts having an immediate bearing upon
the subject, and seemingly corroborative
OF these deductions, must be regarded as
unquestionable, to wit: First, that green
grass will fatten stock and make the best
OF beef and mutton; while the feeding
of hay, as generally cut and cured, does
not, as general rule, when fed in the
most liberal quantities, keep stock from
running down in condition during the
winter. The other fact is, that while, as
a general thing, the meadows show 8
diminished production from year to year
even on good lands, on the same land:
the pastures, under proper management,
are found to improve with age. The
same fact tends to prove that our hay i:
not near early enough to preserve the
nutrltive value of the grass; and the
second fact tends to prove that allowing
the grass to mature before cutting inju
riousl y affects the future life of the
plant. 1t seems to Us that having gras;
cut so early may be attended with diff
Guilty; but, Mr.. Scott says he generally
gets it into cock the first day, and into
the, barn 'the second, with favorable
weather. At all events, we regard these
experiments as worthy of being repeated
by our farmers; and whatever may be
the final conclusions we are satisfied that
it will be found that we must plant
earlier.-Ndti0RaI livestock J0arnaL.