The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-10-05
Variety in Hay,

| We should not be content with
clover and timothy for hay to the
exclusion of other good grasses. If
grass is desirsd for pasturage a va
riety is sought in the native growth
of the meadows, but when hay is
to be cut and cured for winter we
should use the same judgment in
growing it as in pasturing. If it is
desirable to have a mixed pasturage
during time when animals are en-
abled to vary their diet, it is even
more so during the cold season, and
there is no necessity for restricting
our hay to a single kind simply be-
cause a sutficiency of it can be OBJ
tanned without resort to other
grasses. That red clover cannot be
excelled as fodder is an undenia
BILE fact, but clover is much hetter
for feeding to cattle than to horses.
and even a mixture of timothy does
not help the case, as the two do not
ripen together. .y-Orchard grass,
which comes into blossom with
clover, will grow on light, dry soils,
and has the merit of furnishing
successive cuttings. 1t is not rec
commended here to discard timothy,
for it is too valuable; but why
should farmers deny themselves
the advantage of sowing a mere
suitable grass with their clover?
Orchard grass is a more permanent
grass than timothy, continues to
give two crops each year for several
season, and grows early, being
among the first Of our crops to
start off in the spring, which makes
it valuable for early pasturage. On
good, rich land, especially if it is a
little moist, crop Of red top or
herdsgrass would add to the variety
of hay crop. This grass, by its
running roots, soon forms a thick
sod, and is permanent. Blue grass
is best adapted to limestone soils.
1t should not be grazed to close,
but should be left for eating by
stock at late periods, Hungarian
grass affords at least three cuttings
during the season, and as it grows
so quickly and on the thinnest
soils, there is no excuse for dispens-
ing with it. All grasses do better
with a liberal supply of manure,
but it is just as easy to grow a crop
of mixed hay as it is a crop of
single kind. There are grasses that
thrive on rich land, dry sandy land,
damp land, and medium land, and
if they cannot be grown together in
one field they can be sown in differ
ent localities and mixed in the cut
ting-box. 1t is the possession of
mixed hay that enables the farmers
to feed for the best results; for the
nutritious qualities of hay, depend
more upon its combination of mat
ter than on the account of a single
element. If hay is deficient in
the phoSphates or nitrogen the de-
ficiency must be supplied from other
sourches, and in no way can the
most satisfactory results be OBJ
tanned so well as from variety of
food. 1t is possible that no hay is
supplied with all that an animal
needs, and grain is fed for that rea-
son; but we are enabled to use less
grain when the hay consists Of sew
eral kinds. Animals are induced
to eat with keener relish when given
a variety, and their health and gen
eral coalition are promoted thereby.
Again it must not be overlooked
that much larger average crops can
be obtained from variety, as the
danger from drouth is somewhat
lsssoned, all grasses not being af-
fected alike.