Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-07-01
How to Make the Best OF tho Grass
Cran

4
When the question Is settled in favor
of cutting grass TO feed cattle, there are
two more that force themselves
upon us and demand settlement.
The first Is is the time of cutting and
| the second the manner of curing As
| to the time of cutting grass there Is but
little difference of opinion, very large
portion of the farmers being in favor OF
cutting early, as soon as the grass is in
blossom; but as to the best methods OF
curing, or preserving, they are great
variety OF opinions; while one party
believes it best to spread and dry in the
sun for two days, another party be-
lieves il should be cut after nine o clock
u. M, and put in the barn before three
o'clock, p. M, the same day; and now
II new party has stepped to the front,
and declared that grass and other green
crops can be preserved the best if cut
and packed down entirely green, in
silo, without even drying the water out
after shower, and they prove their
faith in 1t by their practice. While 1t
| is evident that grass can be cured, or
| preserved in these various ways, so that
cattle will readily eat it, and thrive on
| il, it is not so clear as to which way is
the best this is TO be regretted, for
in matter of so much Importance it is
| very desirable that we should waste as
little as possible, and settle down to
the most economical and the most re-
liable, as well rs the best way.
| Reliable chemists tell us that grass
dried in the sun, without being wet,
preserves nearly, if not quite all of its
nutriment, while if wet by heavy
shower it loses nearly one-third- of its
nutritious qualities; they also, tell us
that, when put into silo green, it loses its
sugar by fermentation, though the loss
in this way is not as great as when wet
by rain. From this it would seem, ii
one was sure of fair weather, he could
could keep more cattle on his
grass cured by sunshine than by preserv-
ing in silo, and that he could
keep more by packing in silo,
than if he should get it caught in rain.
Some farmers succeed in getting the best
hay by making it in the cock; after
giving it few hours sun, it is raked
up in heaps of about forty pounds each,
and allowed to remain untouched the
next day; but the third day, if the
weather remains fair, it is recocked,
and the fourth day the cocks are turned
|
after dinner. The objection to this
way is that it is too much labor, and il
there should be storm it Injuries the
outside. which would have to be spread
and dried but no common storm would
injure the inside, unless it should come
before it had been raked up twelve
hours. Clover hay, made in this way
retains all of its leaves and is very
sweet; the blossoms in the winter are
very fragrant and hold their color re-
markably well. ,-.T r .Ha.5
With the improvements which We
now have, to cut, make and harvest oul
grass, we cannot stop to practice the
old methods in use before the introduc
of machinery, even though our hay may
not be quite as good; but when W.
consider how quick we can cut anc
spread a five acre lot, and how easily
and we'll it can be stirred and kept il
the air to dry, and finally how easily i
can BE- raked, loaded and housed, it ap
pears very evident that with littl,
watching of the weather, there is ;
better chance to get our grass wei
cured under the old system of hant
work. Massachusetts Piougtnlan. y