Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-10
Moro Light Wanted,

Moro Light Wanted.
Mn. EUIroR:-1ou have published at
various times statements in regard TO Prof.
Sanborn's experiments TO show the value
OF hay cut at different times in its growth,
and few weeks ago you published a farm
er's opinion of the same. Now, you have
been about among the farmers good deal
aud have attended good many agricul-
tural meetings during the past winter, and
doubtless YOU have hoard the subjects spoken
Of many times. consequently I wish to in.
quire what is the prevailing opinion among
tho best farmers OF the state on this quas-
lion Do thoy agree with tho professor ?
havo an idea that if called upon for their
opinion a great majority would think grass
ought TO he cut at least as soon AS the
blossom appears, and not few would SGT
the best time even earlier than that but
may be wrong, and if so, would like TO
know it.
In former communication mentioned
Mr.. Scott of Craftsbury and Mr.. Skinner
nf rlsinficld. who cut their grass before it
is fairly headed out, and who show records
Of the yield of butter from thoir cows that
are hard to beat. In Wow of these OK.
amplcs and many moro Of - similar nature,
it seems to me that VIC ought 10 wait for
more light" before deciding to delay our
hay harvest till ten days after the bloom.
There ought to be more careful tests ofthe
feeding quality OF hay cut at different
periods oil Its growth, and think it will
not DO TO trust to one or two experiments,
but VIC ought to have them several times
repeated that there may be no mistake
lfthat cannot be done in Vermont on a
state experimental farm individual farm
crs can at least make more careful OBJ
ssrvaHons upon tand BY comparing results
arrlvo at something near the truth. With
out much question the weight would in
crease considerably after the time that
some think We ought TO cut it, but they
claim that the chances for a second crol
arc so much better that there is usually no
loss even in weight. Also according t.
my experience there is a larger percentage
al waste in hay cut late. Glover hay on
rich ground, ii cut before fHlly in bloom
and properly cured, will all be eaten
sroedily; but il it stands till the seed is
we'll formed. quite likely there will be
storms and it will be badly lodged, and
perchance even begin 10 decay upon the
ground. You will then obtain a large
bulb of hay but it has not that delightful
fragrance which the early cut possessed,
and cattle can scarcely be made to eat it
clean. And here | would make the sug
gestion, that the condition of the soil will
have an important bearing on the question.
II the crop is heavy one it may be best
TO cut it little before it reaches its prime
rather than risk it longer; but if medium
or rather light, the storms that would
nearly ruin the former might benefit it by
causing 1t to thickcn mp at the bottom, and
we could not as in the other ease expect to
obtain in the rowcn crop what we lost by
carly cutting.
Upon examining the subject on all sides
cannot help thinking that grass should
he cut earlier than Prof. Sanhorn's expert
ments would seem to indicate, but | am
open to conviction if other experiments
should result as his have apparently. One
important item in favor of early cutting
wish to mention, although think spoke
of it in former commune alton, bat it j.
seldom spoken Of and will bear repeating
| refer 10 the absence oil the seeds OF
troublesome plants in early Gu, hay, while
II wo let it stand TIL ten days after the
timothy has hioSsomcd there will he many
seeds ripe enough TO grow and cause us
Utmost infinite annoyance. There are other
crops besides grass that it would he greatly
to our advantage If We knew Just the best
timo 10 en-, and at tbc risk oi arcninr on
both sides of question, ! wish to give my
iaoos In rccard 10 corn nlan,ca for ro,l,lcr |
have rIsn,cd and sovrI . rood m,np
varieties and in , good many w,ys and I |
,,soA 10 tbink viii otbcrs that If should ho |
IN, and curod about ~ soou as it was in
h,ossnm hut c.ncrirrcr has convinced mo |
In the contrarr For several vnars l,avo
rrenl a ,,tci, IT III. sanford corn nlan,
"a s., ,bin tla. Il ym,IJ r,r nrci,v wall |
,rJ ,I,ho,oh n,on,n1 In rooI en,s,n tho /!
cows have hooded i, a. soon ns we'll tasscl, I
I'd nm, hr, a, fra, il spoms ia Il, I'm, Iiitlo
.-ood Artor . vhi,c howovcr who, ,hn
oars arc dcvelonrd considerably we find
,hat tho vio,d NJ hn,tor i bcttct and Tho
f,olor c,,,l IN that made in linn Tbiy
ron,irnn, I'M rho rorn is nc,rlv rinc AMI
Ln,,, i, I,,la f,iIir,r ar cro, ,h,n,,,, s.,,,,'
of,he l,cst cars ,rc rrmovrd
rrof C,,linr in hia eIncrineu,, -, mail
;rc, ,r,r.r from, Gown st,lt . fund TINT thorc
va rery Ii,,In snrar in ,hcm until thr or
WA roneiicrabIv ,Icrcloned Docs mot mis-
! ,dica,o Ibot tho quality Of the s,,IE. for
loeJinr nnrposcs improves IN ycry near
ma,nri,vp Jthink also that corn for ro1
1cr sho3,d Nh, hn sowed ,hirk cnonmh to
rrevon, lie caring rrct,v well | h,yo
,o;sed ,yos,ern sawed broadcast ori,o
,JictJz n ,ha land woa rich il ,rnuId
rrow nm tal, and if thcrc was = hard
stor,,, !, wss an, IN lo,lao tho lower Ioavos
would die. and when fed 10 cows could
SEQ hut liule benefit from it, and think that