Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-05
CuttIng and Curing Har.


Grasses of different species are cut
for hay at various stages Of growth,
but when cut too green or too ripe II
makes stuffing, and when conjoned
with corn, barley or oats, will keep
horses comfortably, but withdraw the
grain and the fact that horses have
ribs will soon be demonstrated without
the use Of spcctacles. We lay down
the proposition as general one, that
all grasses contain the most nutriment
when their seeds are nearly full grown.
The important idea is to cut the grass
when little blades and seeds taken to.
gether contain the greatest amount OF
available nutriment to be found. We
Judge from observation that at the time
the seeds are nearly full grown the
plant is in the most active chemical
condition, and the foliage has not yet
lost its elements of nutrition. Taking
this idea rs basis IL would not be the
best thing, as many farmers seem to
suppose, to cut timothy for hay when
1t is in blossom, for then the whole
plant is largely fluid, and if properly
cured will weigh much less to the acre
than when more nearly matured II
we wanted TO give our horses the
heaves. we would feed them timothy
hay cut when in blossom. June grass
will bear cutting when the seeds are
tolerably well-flled, indeed must be
cut then, or its nutrtive qualities will
have been partially lost On the other
hand, if we allow the seeds to ripep
before we cut for hay, the strength OF
the foliage is mostly lost, because il
has served the full purpose of its ere.
ton, the seeds alone furnishing the Gle.
ments of muscular and osseous growth.
but not in the liberal manner that the
foliage does when cut and cured al
the right time. We cannot be guided
by the day of the month or the moons
position in relation to the earth, in
cutting grass for hay, but should be
guided by the condition of the grass
itself, as indicated by its stage OF ma.
turity. We know that many men ad-
vocate cutting grass pretty young, but
it sees to us they have no substantial
amount of available nutriment in ton
that is the true point to be considered.
Foliage needs to be full grown to afford
the best results in the growth of ami
mails during cold weather, but the mo-
ment the leaves reach their full maturi-
ty, the elements of decay begin, and, of
course, the longer we wait after this,
the greater the. loss to the stock that
consumes it. The seed itself is some
what different, because when cut too
soon it is nearly worthless, or if cut
after it is completely matured it scat
ters and also loses weight. To be
worth the most, because the heaviest,
it must be cut while in the dough stage;
then it retains its full weight, and mill
ers say makes the best flour
Clover, for hay, wants cutting before
very many of the heads turn brown,
and cut in this condition and well cured
it will actually fatten sheep with very
moderate allowance OF corn and oats,
and is Just the thing to keep the calves
growing through the, winter, provided
humanity in the farmers bosom finds
action in giving comfortable shelter
for the fellows that grow into money
nights and Sundays as well as week
days. About the curing of hay, we can
well recollect when that side draft ma
chine, the hand scythe, was in general
use, we had to spread grass with a
| pitchfork, and after dinner of sunny
| day, it had to be turned over, and per-
haps the next day would be thought
dry enough to make up. Then all hands
with the hand rakes' put it in windrows,
and then it was raked up to settle for a
day or two before putting in the barn.
For many years past we have learned
that too hot a sun on thinly spread grass
! Injuries the hay by evaporating too much
| of the fluids, q portion of which should
| be retained. OF late years it has been
practiced with good results in good hay
weather, to. cut in the forenoon and put
in racks in the afternoon. In moderate
sized racks it will cure perfectly and
retain much of its green color, and a
peculiar dry color which it loses by
much exposure to hot sun. Grass
raked up and exposed to much rain is
bleached and injured if spread out. and
| if it remains in the racks it soon be-
comes musty and partially spoiled. To
save the green racked grass, in case of
rains, caps made of ducking, or other
thick or tightly woven cloth, and pinned
down with sharp stakes, has answered
an excellent purpose and saved great
amount of hay in good condition, which
otherwise would have been nearly
spoiled. In proof of timothy making
valuable hay when cut with the seed
nearly full grown, we take from the
sheets of memory the fact, that we re-
corded in our boyhood days, that g
neighbor never cut his timothy till
everybody else was done; and we car
recollect shelling out heads in his wag
on-house of about full grown seeds
The fact bearing On the case was this
that his horses were always sleeker and
in better condition in winter than any
of the other horses in the neighborhood
Cor. Westeyn Rural.