The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-02
Securing the Grass Crop.

u The Indications are that the crop OF
grass and other forage plants will DC
very light this season over 4 large eX-
.atent of territory. The absence Of snow
last winter was linfavoraDle to grass
and MANY of the more tender varieties
of grass, and a scarcity of hay will bc
the result unless there are lmulcdlate
rains. In many cases the early spring
was unusually dry and the growth of
grass and clover was small. The re-
cent hot weather caused them to adj
vance toward maturity very rapidly.
In view OF Il small yield of the most
valuable crop in the country it is i'm
: port.lut that farmers secure it with
the least waste AMI i'll the best mail
ner possible. No pains should dc
spared to- cut it when worth the most
for feeding purposes and secure II
against damage by weather.
No Esrner can make the most posi-
bic out OF his crop of grass and clover
who does not Use the hand scythe to- Il
considerable extent 1t should he en-
ployed to- cut the grass that grows be-
side fences, i'll the orchards and on the
land bordering OH the fields of grain
and cultivated crops, rs corn and po-
tatoes. 1t should be used also To cut
both grass ami clover that have been
lodged or broken by the wind to- such
ln extent that the moving machine
can not be employed with profit or
safety. In many cases large quanti-
ties of grass aud clover 60 To waste be-
cause they cannot be cut with q na-
chine, and farmers do not like to use
the hand scythe. In other cases many
machines are ruined by using them on
land that contains impedinents in the
form of trees, bushes, stumps, stones,
or lodged grass and clover.
Atsike and red clover as well as most
of the cultivated grasses should be cut
rs soon as they are in full blossom.
They may yield more pounds of hay
III allowed to remain uncut q few days
longer, but will be of inferior quality.
Early-cut grass and clover will make
more milk and flesh than when they
are allowed to remain in the field
till the seeds are nearly or fully ripe.
When grass and other forage plants
are yet tender, and properly cured,
very large proportion of them will be
digested. Ii they are allowed to grow
till the stalks become hard they are of
comparatively little value rs food, and
especially ia this the case when they
are fed to animals quite young.
Very rank grass and clover should
be cut before danger from lodging oc-
ours. Almost any forage crop is in
ilIred very greatly by being in COIL
ttct with the ground. The labor of
cutting them while in this situation
is also very great, and their value as
food comparatively small. By cutting
r:ulk grass and clover early danger OF
injury by lodging is avoided and the
prospect of getting u second crop in
creased. 1t is easier TO cut and cure
two crops of grass and clover that
stands erect than one that is lodged.
ISowen or aftermath is most exec lIent
food for colts. calves, AMI lambs. Re-
Gently the second crop of clover, which
consists chiefly of foliage, has been
recommended rs food tor pigs during
the winter. They prefer it To con-
slant diet of dry corn.
When there is insufficient room in
barns for storing all the fodder crops
raised OH the farm, sound Judgment
should he exercised in deciding which
should be placed i'll stacks. Prairie
hay and straw will receive little in
jury if placed in stacks properly
made but clover, timothy, and most
other kinds of cultivated grasses
should be stored under u roof. Much
valuable fodder is lost every year ill
stacks or ricks that are improperly
constructed. Still more is lost by
building them on poor foundations or
directly on the ground. The practice
which is general i'll England OF having
substantial foundations for stacks,
which are elevated two or three feet
from the surface of the ground, should
be introduced into this country. Not
unfrequently a ton of hay in the bot
tom OF a stack is ruined by water or
by vermin. !