Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-09-27
The Best Time to Gut Hay.
New England Farmer.

than has been the prevailing practice,
and, 50 far as we can Judge, the farm.
ers generally are ready to admit that
the hay crop is not cut quite as early
as it should be to give the best quality
of fodder for cattle. The difficulty
seems to be that farmers do not get
ready to begin haying as early as they
ought. There is little more planting
to do, Or little more hoeing, or the
machines are not in order, or the extra
hired help do not arrive.
Some do not like to begin till all
other work is finished, so that there
shall be no interruption when the
mowers are started. 1t is possible that
the farm can be moved over, and the
hay secured at less cost where other
work is not allowed to interfere after
haying is begun, but the quality of the
crop is likely to be far inferior to what
it would be if each lot were cut at the
time it was in its best condition.
During a ride of many miles through
a grass section in southern New Eng
land the last week in June, we found a
great many fields of blue grass, and
other early varieties, that were already
past their best condition. We also saw
much white daisy that would have
made passable quality of hay had it
been cut as soon as it came into flower,
but with the seeds formed, and the
stems, young, dry, and hard, its value
was pretty much gone. Besides, it is
now in condition to scatter its seeds
through the manure in the cattle yards,
by the way sides, and in the fields
when cut, to perpetuate and spread the
nuisance.
The introduction of hayiug machin,
cry has enabled the farmer to cut his
hay in much less time than it formerly
took, and consequently our hay crop is
secured in much better condition than
formerly, but we think that farmers,
as "A rule are quite too backward about
beginning the hay harvest. We would
never consider the hoeing all done for
the season so long as there are any
weeds that ought to be killed, or ground
that needs stirring, nor should the
planting season be deemed ended so
long as there are vacant spots in field
or garden that ought to be devoted to
some paying product. With our great
er diversity of crops we find it often
necessary to be planting or sowing
seeds nearly all the growing season.
For many years we have made it a
rule to lose no good hay weather after
the middle of June till the entire crop
is secured, or till there is no grass that
is ripe enough to NOW. Orchard
grass, red clover, and blue grass
are ready to cut nearly every year by
the middle Of June, sometimes earlier,
and by cutting the early fields as they
ripen there is less hurry and drive, and
each lot is secured in the best condi,
ton. By using the best of the weath>
er for hay making, the field culture
can be done during cloudy days, or
early in the morning before it is time
to start the machines.
One advantage to be gained by ear
ly cutting is from the greater ability of
green stuff to resist the action of dew,
showers and storms. Green grass
turns water something like cabbage
leaf, while ripe grass abSorbs it like a
sponge. Although experiments may
have shown that grass fully grown is
worth more for feeding fat cattle and
working horses in connection with grain
that was formerly supposed, yet the
chances on account OF bad weather and
other Interruptions are so against cut
ting and curing hay crops as rapidly
as one could wish, that it will always
be wise to endeavor to err by cutting
too early rather than too late. At this
writing there is very little upland hay
that is not ready to cut, and the work
of harvesting should be pushed as rap.
idly as possible. After the grass is
fully ripe, as most of it is at this time,
it is folly to hold back, and calculate
on poor weather. Cut in dull wealth
or all that can he taken care of when