The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-07-18
Making Hay.

4r.. FROM the new YORK sun.
The old saw which tells the farmer
to "make hay while the sun shines
does not go far enough in the way of
advice, for much poor hay is made
in the best of haying weather. A
man cannot make good hay out OF
poor material 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 and Ied-top, or any
of the clOvers, if allowed to stand
until ripe and the leaves drop. are
worth little more for hay than so
much rye straw; and it is to the i'm
portance of cutting hay early that
we wish 10 call especial attention.
There is L ever too much fodder saw
ed anywhere for the use of stock in
winter; but there is vast quantity
gathered which is almost worthless,
because the operation is delayed I'M
til the plants are past their best.
daymaking consists essentially in
eXpelliBg the moisture from green
heritage cut in a succulent stage, and
it ought TO be so conducted as to
expel nothing but water, while re-
tanning as much Of this as will secure
the perfect conservation Of the hay
Il too large quantity of moisture is
retained, fermentation, followed by
deterioration of value. results. Tue
best time to cut a crop for hay is at
the moment Of completion of growth
ia the stature of the plant, when the
formation of seed has commenced
1.-THE operation is delayed, the stem
begins to Lightly. or become woody.
and the most important nutrient prin-
ciples are absorbed by the seed,
which is. generally lost by falling
out, becoming &scattered during har-
vesting, or while the hay is being
fed out to the stock. The agricul-
tural chemist as well as our most
thorough scientific farmers Lave 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 leave
and stems are in soft, suceulent
condition. We believe this point is
so well settled that none but the
most ignorant Of our farmers would
advocate a delay of haymaking be-
yond the period named still. through
want of a proper system of manage
ment, hundreds do not getready 10
enter their hayfelds until the season
is SO far advanced that making good
hay is out Of the question aud we
think it would be no exaggeration to
say, that, through neglect 10 gather
in time, the hay crop of the United
States is lessened in actual feeding
value twenty per cent.-a loss TO
the coantryo Of millions of dollars an
nually This waste of material is so
widely distributed that it is scarcely
felt by individuals !; still, tits one OF
the great leaks which help to keep |
our farmers poor.
Il is not alone in the deprecated |
value Of the hay crop that the effect
Of late haying is seen; for another |
fact, which has also been fully de.
monstrated, is. that the production
of seed Of plants is an exhaustive
process in itself. and. with the ex-
ception Of two or three species Of |
grasses. injury 10 the roots and gen.
eral loss or vigor follow late gather
ing Of the crop. In other words,
meadows last longer if the hay is
cut early than s-ifleft until the seed /
has formed. anda second growth OF
heritage is more sure to follow. Any
one who has sown rye or oats for
soiling purposes knows tlatsif mown
before the heads have fairly formed.
Two, three. or more good cuttings
may be secured during the season
rom the original roots; but Jet the
.rain become fairly formed, and one !