The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-14
AGRICULTURAL.
Late Cut Hay.

Prof. Emil Wolfe, of Germany, an emil
nent scientific authority, declares as the re-
suit of thirteen analyses of hay cut before
blooming, in bloom, and after blooming,
that in the first case it will contain eighty
eight per cent. of nutritive elements; in the
second sixty-two per cent; and in the third
only thirty-one per cent. Prof. J. w. San
born of the New Hampshire Agricultural
College, has been putting the matter to a
practical te t, by six experiments in feeding
hay cut as above, and refully noting the
results. AS will be seen by the following
extracts from his report, his conclusions do
not agree with those of Prof. Wolfe, nor in
deed with his own previous opinions upon
the subject. He says:
This is the end of the sixth trial and all
point in one direction. Is it all an acct
dent, this uniformity of result? | am con-
WINGED, against my previous judgment, that
the doctrines in vogue in favor of early cut
ting hay have been carried to great excess.
and that it is probably true that hay had
better be cut at some period not determined,
after bloom. While not asserting that the
fact is proven that it is more nutritious then,
L consider it more than probable that it is;
and when the amount of nutrition per acre
is considered, certain. In the meanwhile I
propose to continue these investigations.
Recent discoveries in the chemistry of
plant analysis have somewhat modified the
theoretical values that chemists would at
tach to grass cut at different periods of
growth, in favor of later cut hay, or hay ap-
preaching maturity. In the earlier stages
OF growth large part of the nitrogen here
tofore reckoned as albuminoids has been
found to be non-albuminoid compounds and
generally assumed to be non-fesh forming.
In eighteen samples of hay analysed at the
Connecticut experimental station. this non
albuminous nitrogen varied from SOB per
cent to 24.36 per cent. of the total nitrogen.
Prof. Golfers analyses have shown large
per cent. OF these nitrogen compounds,
while foreign results, where these facts
we're first brought out, are quite full in this
direction. Notwithstanding this important
qualification of previous theoretical values
given to hay cut at varying dates, chemistry
as yet asserts the superior value of early cut
hay over late, pound against pound. Prof.
5. w. johnson, who is everywhere reckoned
as authority in agricultural chemistry, in
the report of Connecticut Experimental Sta
ton for 1879, says on page IS in answer to
an inquiry: sI agree with you also than an
acre of grass cut about heading time is
worth more than cut at any subsequent
period"
SO far as that experiment may be taken
as evidence in the case on the scientific
side, refer the inquiring and curious rea-
der to the very full analysis by Prof. Collier
of the three samples of hay fed, soon to ap-
pear in the Bulletin of the State Board of
Agriculture. This Bulletin is free, and can
be obtained by addressing, make no doubt,
Secretary James 0. Adams, Concord.
In the meanwhile, while the question is
vt issue, it may be said that chemistry never
has succeeded in fixing the nutritive value
OF complex foods, and itself must be led and
directed to more thorough research by facts
Agricultural chemistry must not, however,
be lightly thought Of
In the interest of accurate facts. must
not omit to state that the hay cut in bloom
was cut in the afternoon, and while vet
thoroughly green was wet by quick, light
and feeting shower that left no traces on
the hay, as it remained brighter and was
relished, as seen by the figures, better than
the late cut hay. Its effect on its value
might be somewhat problematical, but for
tunately the same shower wet the latest cut
clover that is seen to be so much more fav-
orable than the earlier cut and unwet
clover.