The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-05-28

CUTTING OARS EARLY.-Where It is
designed to feed oats in the sheaf TO stock.
1t Is better that it should be cut early, lust
30 soon as the milk forms into dough. The
advantages derived from cutting early may
be stated rs follows:
l.. There is no loss from shattcripg Of the
grain. Ia, ..s.s;--
2. 1t renders the straw moro ligessable
and more palatable.
.. Ii vacates tho land ton TO fifteen days
earlier for fallow crop Of peas or for forage
crops or sweet potatoes. In fact, on rich
land, cotton may follow early cut oats or other
grain
= When shoaf oats that have been allowed
to ripen thoroughly before being cut and fed
to stock, they refuse generally to eat the
straw, and not for the reason that it is void
OF all nutriment even in that case, but from
the fact that they waste and soil it in their
efforts to eat up the grain heads first, and
because Of the harshness Of the straw, iesult-
ing from its over ripened condition. II is
very great economy to have the oats cut
up 80 that the grain becomes mixed with the
straw and the straw cannot be pulled out of
the rack or manger and soiled under foot
Oat straw possesses considerable nutriment,
and we ought to strive to utilize it to its
fullest extent.
For the purpose of fodder, ton and a
half Of sheaf oats, cut early, while the stalk
is more o. less green, to within four or five
inches of the ground, is worth two tons, and
often more, OF that which is allowed to be-.
come dead ripe before cutting. For all
practical purposes It may sometimes be
worth twice as much, taking into consider
alton oil the gain that may be secured by
early cutting, as above indicated. This is
not mere matter of speculation or theory,
for it has been abundantly proven to be
true. Let the farmer that has any doubts
on the subject try it this season, aud seve-
raj successive seasons if necessary, on half
acre If no more, and he will soon be con.
vlnced that it is better to cut early.
AS soon as the stalk becomes dry near
the ground, or as soon rs the grain is out
OF the milk, is the proper time to cut. Oats
ter seed should be left to mature, of course
1t should be tied and shocked as fast as cut,
letting it cure in the shock. If first class
quality of fodder is desired, do not let it lie
In swath, exposed to the sun even half
day if avoidable. Oats cut and cured thus
and run through fodder cutter (nice work
for wet weather cutting up supply of it)
is undoubtedly the cheapest food we can
provide for our stock, and We ought to loarn
how to preserve and feed it without waste.
Tender oat straw, as secured by early cut
ting, is palatable aud nu ritious, and makes
very fair quality of manure, and twenty five
to forty pounds of sheaf oats of this charac.
ter, when cut up, is ample allowance for
any ordinary mule or horse under rigorous
work. The wasteful practice Of using oat
or other grain straw for bedding ought to
be stopped, by all those farmers especially
who have access to pine straw for this pur-
pose. By all means let the grain straw be
passed through the stock if its full value
would be realized. Unpalatable as it may
often prove, yet stock will eat and do tolera-
bly, we'll on it, but they won't eat pine straw.
Let the farmers watchword be "a sound
economy in all things."-S. A. G. IN Soutt.
ern Farmers iNonthy.