Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-06-25

J. W. sANDoEN OF THE INV HAMPSHIRE COL
LEGE FARM PBoNoUSCEs IT THE BEST.

J. W. sANDoES OF THE INV HAMPSHIRE COL
LEGE FARM PBONoUScEs IT THE BEST.
Several experiments made by J. w. San
born of the New Hampshire college farm, in
feeding hay cut, first, before bloonN second,
in bloom; third after bloom, resulted in ia
yor of the late cut hay. His conclusions are
given below:
This is the end Of the sixth trial and all
point in one direction, Is it all an accident,
this uniformity Of result; | am convinced
against my previous judgment, that the doc
trnes in vogue in favor of carly cutting 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 l propose to con-
tinue these Investigations
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
Recent discoveries in the chemistry of
plant analysis have somewhat modified the
theoretical values that chemists would attach
to grass cut at different periods of growth, in
favor of later-cut hay, or hay approaching
maturity. In the earlier stages of growth q
large part of the nitrogen heretofore reckon
ed as albuminoids has been found to be non
albuminOid compounds and generally assum-
ed to be non-fesh forming. In eighteen sam
pies of hay analysed at the Connecticut ex-
detrimental station, this non.albuminous nj
trogen varied from s. 93 per cent to -. 3G per
cent of the total nitrogen. Prof. Collier
analyses have shown a large per cent Of these
nitrogen compounds, while foreign results,
where these facts were first brought out are
quite full in this direction. Notwithstanding
this important qualification of previous theo-
retical values given to hay cut at varying
dates, chemistry rs yet asserts the superior
value of early hay over late, pound against
pound. Prof. S. W. johnson, who is every
where reckoned as authority in agricultural
chemistry, in the report of Connecticut Ex-
detrimental Station for 1879, says on page 81
in answer to an inquiry; II agree with you
also that an acre OF grass cut about heading
time is worth more than cut ut any subse.
quent period"
So far as that experiment may be taken as
evidence in the case on the scientific side,
refer the iuquirng and curious reader to the
very full analysis by Prof Collier of the three
samples of hay fed, soon to appear in the
Bulletin of the State Board of Agriculture
| This Bulletin is free, aud can be obtained by
addressing, make no doubt Secretary Jamei
o. Adams, Concord.
| ID the meanwhile WINE the question Is al
issue, it may be said that chemistry never han
succeeded in fixing the nutritive value o.
complex foods, and itself must be led and di
rected to more thorough research by facts
Agricultural chemistry must not, however, b,
lightly thought Of
In the interest of accurate facts, l must no
omit to state that the hay cut in bloom wa
cut in the afternoon, and while yet thorough
ly green was wet by quick, light and fleet
ing shower that left no traces on the hay, a
it remained brighter and was relished, a
seen by the figures, better than the late-cu
hay. Its effect on its value might be some
what predetermined, but fortunately the sam
shower wet the latest-cut clover that is seel
to be so much more favorable than the earlier
cut and unwet clover.