Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-07-15
Cutting and Curing Grasses.

While there are different times for
cutting the different varieties of grass.
es for hay, the period of Towering is
the general indication for the harvest
to begin. At this season the saccharine
juices that go towards forming and dc.
veloping the seed are in the stalk and
leaves, and il the grass is saved then il
must in the nature of things be palata-
BILE and succulent. Another argument
in favor of cutting grass before the ma.
turity of the seed is that when the seed
is permitted TO develop the vitality oil
the grass becomes impaired, a heavier
draft is made upon the soil and the
meadow in consequence will sooner run
out. To these inducements for early
cutting may bo added the important
fact OF u larger growth of the aftermath
when moving is done while the grasses
are in blossom.
The general tendency is to cut the
grass too close and many fine meadows
receive serious injury therefrom, espe.
cially upland meadows. As rule
grasses that are cut two inches high
will start sooner and thrive better than
when shaved closer to the ground.
Many farmers cut timothy nearly OF
quite four inches from the ground.
Analysis has proven that grass quick.
ly dried in the sun, without being wet,
produces the very best quality OF hay,
but little of its nutritive qualities hav.
ing been lost in the curing process;
hence the necessity of cutting meadows
during fair weather. Practical farmers
ffer as to the length of time grass
should be exposed to the sun and air
previous to being housed. Some con-
slider one good hay day sufficient while
others require two and sometimes three
days. Some prefer to let the grass lie
on the ground just as it is left by the
mower, while others cure it in the
windrow and still others cure it in the
cock.
These differences in the curing re.
suits chiefly from the difference exist
ing in the curing quality of the various
grasses. Glover, for instance. contains
more water than other grasses, con.
sequently it requires longer time to
cure properly. Timothy cures more
quickly than herds grass, while the
coarser grasses in turn require still
longer time than herds grass. To sum
up the matter, the secret of successful
hay-making consists in curing grasses
up to the point at which it will do to
put into the barn and no more, in order
to arrest the loss of sugar and starch al
the earliest possible moment. During
the early part of the season two days
are often required for properly curing
heavy grass. Later, when the grass.
is nearly ripe, it may be cured in one
day.
Farmers generally agree that the cur
ing of clover is better accomplished in
the cock than in the sun, for the sue.
culent leaves and tender blossoms of
clover if exposed to scorching heat
are quickly Drowned and lose much of
their sweetness. A plan largely prac-
ticed consists in moving the clover in
the early part of the day and letting il
lie long enough to become willed. Turn
it once in order to wilt the lower side
of the swaths and then throw it up in
small but high, narrow cocks. After
standing in the cocks two OF more days,
according to the weather, the curing
will have been effected gradually and .
valuable quality of fodder secured
Previous to storing in the barn the
cocks should be turned over and ex
posed in an inverted position to the sur
for a few hours to dissipate any damp
ness that may exist on that portion
which lay close to the ground. Clovel
when stacked out in the field ought t.
be protected either with patent covers
thatching or thick top-cover of whea
straw.
When meadow hay is TO remain in tn,
cocks an indefinite length of time Car,
should be exercised in the formation o
the cocks. These ought not to be to,
large, but built sharp at the top. witt
sides nearly perpendicular, and tinall,
provided with cloth caps. Hay cap
and tedders, by the way, can hardly b,
too highly priced by haymakers. N
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