Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-08
BatIp Kenneher 3nnrnaI.
When to Cut Grass.


A subject not new to the readers of an
agricultural paper, but we cannot refrain
from talking so long as there are so many
sidewalk farming editors who try to in
struct ruralists upon this subject by advo-
eating the nonsensical theory OF cutting
grass very young, while it is sweet and
tender they say. OF course they shed their
theorizing ink to no good purpose, for ex-
perienced farmers will pay no more atten-
ton to the foolish absurdity than fruit
growers would TO theory advocating that
winter apples are best picked and packed
in August. Farmers know too well the
superior value OF matured hay. The pest
evidence of the practicability of doing any
particular thing in farming at a certain
time, and in a certain way, is the univer-
sally adopted system after thoroughly
testing all the different modes.
We do not deny that if grass be allowed
to stand until ripe that very much of the
soluble and nutritious material is con-
yerted into woody matter, and by no
means advocate the practice of putting up
fully ripened hay yet many years OF ex-
perience and experiment upon the farm
giving this subject a good deal of atten-
ton, has furnished us proof positive that
grass we'll developed is superior in nutri-
ment and better relished by cattle than
grass cut before it has reached the bloom
ing state.
One season we cut few tons of herds
grass IN June about the time it was head
ing out. and put it into the barn in good
condition; the main crop was cut just as
the seed had formed, and the stalk re-
ceived full growth. and few tons were
put up ripe. The first cut appeared very
nice, the color was bright, but the hay was
as tough and spongy as tow, and when put
before cattle or horses, was nosed aside
quickly, if a lock of even the ripe hay
could be got hold OF. We tried similar
experiments with other grass, and always
found hay cut just as the stalks were fully
developed and the seed forming, the best.
Farmers almost universally agree that
grass should be cut while in succulent
state. and their practice shows that they
also know that the later it is secured in that
state, the greater weight of hay obtained,
and the better the quality of the same.
Reason also teaches the fallacy of cutting
during its growth it is taking in gum,
sugar, mucilage, abumen and other
components of soluble nature, and in
these lies the nutriment, and these solu-
BILE compounds do not change until the
beginning of the formation of the seed,
and continue to increase up to that time
And further, grass cut young requires
very much more labor to prepare it for
the NOW than cut later. Some who cut
very early allow it to stand in the cock
and sweat, and cure itself by accumulated
heat, but this is not wise or profitable, for
during the fermentation carbonic acid is
formed and an alcoholic property given to
the soluble matter making hay mustv,
unpalatable, less nutritious and probably
unhealthy.
Red clover ripening earlier in the sea-
son than herdsgrass requires the first at
tention of the farmer and should be cut
as soon as it is mature in growth. The
quicker this crop is cured the better By
any mode OF procedure it is difficult to
cure heavy growth fit for the barn in
any reasonable length of time The
plan that we adopted, and one
that we believe to be as good as
dHt. was W uldW TIC ClONoT III dlJcT nav
ing two days, sun, and one turning, and
mix with it alternate layers of straw or
dry hay The dry material will absorb
the succulent substance. and while pre-
serving the new. greatly improve the old
If the dry material is not at hand and the
weather proves unfavorable the clover
NAV be put into cocks.
The heating process will soon begin
but do not let it go far enough to hurt the
hay. BY ventilating the heat will pass
off in vapor. leaving the cock sweet, and
cured in the course of a day or two. ac-
cording to the weather. If the weather is
dry, open the cocks and after letting them
lie an hour or two. haul to the barn.
If rain sets in after the cocks are made
up, let the cocks stand until fair weather
comes. Then, as soon as the outer cocks
are well dried off, open them for few
hours, and forthwith cart them into the
barn.