Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-05
Cutting Grass and Making Hay.

Although this subject has been discuss
ed Tor long time, as much as any other
pertaining to farm economy, it is hardly
threadbare for there is still difference of
opinion as to time and methods of cutting
and curing in order to get the best results
from hay. Certain it is, however, that
great change has taken place in the minds
OF vast number of farmers with regard
to the time of cutting grass, within
a quarter CT a century For a long time
the common practice was to allow the
grass to stand until portion of the seeds
were ripe, and could be rubbed out of the
head; and the reason allege for allowing
the crop to become thus mature was, that
the hay would go farther in feeding; that
1t would last longer, or, as it was some
times expressed, "spend" better. There
IS no question that it would take longer to
feed such hay out, but the idea that it was
therefore more valuable has been dis
carded. The majority of farmers have
since learned what few were not slow in
discovering, that woody fiber possesses no
nutrition and is of little use except in Civ
ing bulk to food, and that over-ripe hay
has parted with large percentage of its
nutrltlve principles. Grasses attain their
full development when in flower and they
then contain the highest percentage of
valuable materials, such as starch, sugar
and accessories, as we'll as nitrOgenOus
compounds, thus combining at that period
more nutrlment for sustaining animal life
than at any other time. Intelligent OBJ
servatlon in practice, as we'll as accurate
analyses, have proved that in the transfer
nation from flower to matured SEED the
starch and sugar of the plant are largely
converted into woody fiber, and this, as a
matter OF course, lessons its value. 1t is
therefore simply question of the value
OF woody fiber as compared with starch,
sugar and vegetable oils and acids in
building up and sustaining the animal
economy; and the idea that hay cut over
ripe, VIII last longer than that cut when
the grass is in flower (Which is still held
by an Individual here and there) loses its
force. The time to cut, therefore, is that
period when the grass contains the maxi
mum of nutrition, and this point, as we
have said, has been ascertained to be when
the plant is in flower
But curing hay probably is quite as i'm
portant if all of the nutritive properties
1t contains are secured Tor as nearly so as
posslble), as is the proper time of cutting
1t. 1t may be said without risk of much
debate, that this matter receives less at
tention among farmers generally than it
ought to, or than its importance deserves.
1t hardly need be said that the process of
curing is one which requires Judgment
and skill, for it is we'll understood that to
be OF value hay must not be allowed to
lie too long after it is cut before it is
turned, and then put either into cocks, or
the stack, or barn. The point to decide
IS, when the grass is cut, how to cure it
50 as to evaporate a necessary quantity of
moisture to secure its preservation, and
retain the largest portion of its nutritive
properties. The old methOd-and the one
which majority follow yet-is, to ex
pose it to the action of the sun and the
atmosphere, turning it in the swath so
that both sides may be cured alike-until
it has become fit for storing. But it has
come to be understood by no inconsidera-
bic number of our best farmers that in
this rapid process of driving the hay parts
not only with a considerable percentage
of its moisture but with a portion also of
its nourishing constituents. Herein is the
fine art, so to speak, of curing hay; to ar
rest the loss OF sugar and starch, or their
change into woody fiber, just at the point
where 1T is safe to put the hay into the
barn. The practice of many is to expose
1t but short time to the sun and atmOs-
phere, put it into cocks, and in that way
permit the heAt generated by fermentation
to dry it Efficiently to store in the NOW,
being satisfied that it thus retains more OF
its nutritious juices than when dried thor
ougbiy in the SUM- Western R1tr0z.