Huntsville gazette., 1884-08-16
Management Of Grass Land and Grass.

According to the last agricultural re-
port the hay crop ranks third in money
value OF the crops raised in the country.
Corn stands first, with value of $685.
867 600; wheat second at S444, ,6O2, 900,
and hay third at 1868, 95S, 900. New
York State leads in hay production,
with over 4, ,962, 900 acres, the product
of which is valued at $40, III, 900.
Thus, it will be seen that upon the hay
crop depends largely the interest of the
farming community, and upon the pro-
per management of grass land depends
the profit or loss of the hay crop.
1t was my fortune to attend meet
ing of a practical farmers organization
not long ago, and the topic for discus
sion was the Management of Grass
Land" summarize the essential
points for the benefit of your agricultural
readers, all of whom are naturally in
terested in this question.
The practice of repeated moving and
pasturing of meadows must be aban-
doned if we would keep up their produc-
tiveness. The enfeebled appearance of
many meadows is due to withhold
ing fertilizers Meadows. as a rule,
can be moved year after year providing
the second growth is left upon them.
The aftermath is not only fertilizer,
but is protector, enabling the soil to
produce stronger and better crops.
Some special fertilizer should be APP
piled, if one has not sufficient fine stable
manure. Plaster serves an excellent
purpose upon meadows. Old meadow
bottoms on low ground may be pas
tured after the crop is taken off, but not
upland meadows.
We have to compete with Western
farmers in grain production and wheat
production; but in the fine grades OF
timothy we need fear no great competi-
ton. A fine lot of timothy will always
find market; and farmers ought to give
more attention to producing only the
very best hay for market. In regard to
time OF cutting grass, it was said that ii
the crop could be secured promptly the
best time for cutting is when the
timothy is in bloom, or just before. 1t
is then of good color; it has not yet
formed seed, hence has not produced
any great drain upon the soil. But
where there are a hundred acres or so
to NOW over we cannot always wait for
the best time to gather this crop. One
member reported cutting two pieces OF
grass, side by side, the one in early
July, the other in August, and the next
year he found there was good grass on
the former and scarcely none on the
latter.
One difficulty with our Eastern farm
methods is that we crop the land too
much. Everything is turned into
money that possibly can be. The surest
way to bring up some farms that have
been run down by grain-raising is to
keep more stock, sell less off the land,
put more manure back and strengthen
the soil. Hay must take the place of
rye to a large extent on some of our
farms, or the results will be disadvan-
tageous to them. Ashes, lime and plaster
are good substitutes for farm-yard
manure, and they should be applied Just
as the grass is starting in spring, or Just
after moving, and if just before
shower, so much the better.
A timely topic is the cutting and cur
ing of clover. Its value as hay depends
much on its being properly cured The
cutting should be as early as possible,
for the benefit of the second growth,
especially if it is to be mown for rowen.
When the clover is in blossom, or Just
as some of the heads take on a brown
ish appearance, is the best time to cut
it. 1t should be left in the swath until
the upper surface is wilted, and then be
turned, that the other side may be simi-
larly treated. Then let it be put up in
well-made hay-cocks, not punches
hastily rolled together, and left to stand
over night, at least to cure, which it
will do quite as well thus as when
spread out, and with the additional
advantage of having the leaves remain
intact. Its color will also be much bet
ter preserved. When put in the NOW
sprinkling of salt over each layer will
allow it to be housed in much greener
condition, or alternate layers of old hay
or straw will absorb the extra moisture
and prevent heating. Extra pains in
occurring clover hay should always be
AIKEN; it's poor fodder when poorly
cured. IN N. Y. Iadependent.