The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-06-27
Farm and Home.
AND USEFUL INFORMATION.
Making Hay.

The old saying which tells the far
mer 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 hay
weather. A man cannot make good
hay out of poor material; conse
qunetly, he must not only have
some good plant to begin with, but
must cut it at the proper stage Of
it's growth. The best of timothy
and red-top, or any of the clovers,
if allowed to stand until ripe and
leaves drop, are worth little more
for hay than so much rye straw;
and it is to the Importance of cut
ting hay early that we wish to call
especial attention. There is never
too much hay saved anywhere for
the use of stock in winter; but
there is a vast quantity gathered
which is almost worthless because
the operation is delayed until the
plants are past their best.
Haymaking consists essentially
in expelhng the moisture from
green heritage cut in a succGlent
stage, and it ought to be SO conduc
ted as to expell nothing but water,
while retaining as much of this as
will secure the perfect conservation
of the hay. If too large quantity
of moisture is retained, fermenta
ton, followed by deterioration of
values, results. The best time to
cut crop of hay is at the moment
of completion of growth in the stat
ure of the plant, when the forma-
ton of the seed has commenced. If
the operation is delayed, the stem
begins to Lightly, or become woody,
and the most important nutrient
principles are absorbed by the seed,
which is generally lost by falling
out, becoming scattered during har
vestlng, or while the hay is being
fed out OF the stock. The agricultur
al chemist as we'll as our most thor
ough 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
succulent condition. We believe
this point is so well settled that
none but the most ignorant of our
farmers would advocate a delay of
hay making beyond the period
named; still, through want OF
proper system of management, hun
dreds do not get ready to enter
their hayfields until the season is
so far advanced that making good
hay 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 lessened IN actual feeding
value twenty per cent.-a loss to
the country of millions 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
of late haying is seen; for another
fact, which hGs 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 to the roots and
general loss Of vigor 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 a second
growth Of heritage is more sure to
follow. ANY one who has sown rye
or oats for soiling purposes knows,
that if mown before the heads have
fairly formed, two, three, or more
good cuttings may be secured dur
ing the season from the original
roots; but let the grain become fair
ly formed, and one cutting will be
sufficient to xii, tie plants. The
same principles hold good III the
management of the perennial grass
es of our meadows and pastures,
aud it would be well for every far
mer to consider them while making
preparation for haying. The wise
man lays up stores for future needs,
as well as for a present supply;
consequently, we advise our readers
not only to "make hay while the
sun Shines" but whenever time and
opportunity present, and out of
whatever materials there may be at
commando New York Sun.