Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-06-19
The Time for FayInr.

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When there was no implement FOR
cutting grass and clover except the
hand-sc. the IL was exceedingly difficult
TO secure very large crops of either OF
them at exactly the proper time. II
was ne essary TO commence having
early and 10 continue it late in the sea-
son. Some OF the graSs and clover was
cut before IT was sufficiently mature 10
make the most or the best hay. while
some was left till long after the period
when q should have been harvested. Ii
was the practice 20 commence having
at the close of the period for cultivating
corn and potatoes. and to continue cut
ting until the entire crop was secured
Ordinarily the timothy and clover were
cut first while the harvesting Of the
wild grasses that grew on meadows was
d..layed till quite late in the season.
With the introduction of labOr-saving
/ implements, such a The mower. teider
hOrse-rase. hay loader and stacker. IL
has become comparatively eass { secure
even n large hay crop at the proper
time Unfortunately too little atten-
I ton has been given TO the matter of de-
termining what the proper time is TO
cut TIE various kinds of grass and clover
20 make hay. Farmers who make n
business of supplying the market with
hay IA urally desire TO secure the lar
gest amount possible, and to secure il
in the easiest manner. They lind that
they can secure the greatest weight "
allowing timothy. which is the fashion
able grass for hOrse-feeding. to , ecome
quite ripe. The leaves do not drop OF
at maturity, n Is the case with some
kinds Of grasses. the stalks Increase in
size ald weight. and large quantity
of seed natures This nature grass
cures more readily than that which IS
cut when IL is in full bloom. Il loses
less weight in drying. The weather is
generally more favorable for curing late
in the season
When hsy is 10 be used for feeding
animals on the farm something besides
quantity or weight is to be taSen into
consideration. The Ultimate objecs Of
the hay IS TO nroduce flesh and fat The
grass and clover should be crt not
With reference TO the greatest weight Of
hav, but the greatest weight of hesh.
II hay Is not digesied in the stomach OF
the animals that eat il. nothing is pro
dueed but manure. Observations show
that large part of the hay made from
mature grass and clover is wasted. IL
Is rejected By the animlls 70 which il is
fed. or Il passes through the stomach
without being digeSted. As q rule. the
Younger the animal the greater is the
amount wasted. They can not digest
hard and tough hay rs well rs older
animals can. Work horses and o zen,
of which there arc few in the co suiry at
present. do better on hay made from
mature grass and clover than colts.
young cattle. and mich COWS do.
During the past few years the producers
of beef and mutton have turned of
their animals at a much younger ace
than was the practice in former times.
This of itself furnishes an argument in
favor Of early-cut hay. Observations
made in the summer show that Young
animals refuse TO eat the mature stalks
oi clover. timothy, and red top. OBJ |
servatiOns made in the winter show /
that they decline 10 cat them when /
converted into hay if they can obtain /
other kinds OF food. The general con /
clusiOn 10 he drawn from these obser- |
servation l. that grass and clover in /
ten led for young stock should be cut
sometime before the seed natures and 4
the stalks become hard II cut nj that I
time the hay viii be tender and nutri- /
tons. AT the period of blossom Nc |
most forage plants contain the max
imum amount of foliage which Is OF /
the greatest value for food next TO the |
flowers themselves Cut when most OF
the blossoms are at their full size
clover affords hay THAI is relished bv all
kinds of stocs-
BY cutting grass and clover s;lite ear
~ much OF the danger OF lodging is
prevented II i easier to cut and cure
four acres Of grass or clover that stand
upright than one that is q ed. The
hay made of lodged grass and clover Is
generally OF very poor quality. Con-
act with the ground has caused some
OF the foliage and blossoms to becoma
musty, and IN some eases to lie covered
with dirt The roots of the plants are
likely to be in ured by having the stalks
that spring from them lodge. Grass
and clover grown on rich land are quite
certain TO lodge if their cutting is neg
ieeted tai the seeds mature By cut
ting them early. two crops NAV be har-
vested from the same ground. The sec
Oud crop viii often be IS large as the
hrst and will be of special value to
young animals. For forming a good.
compact sod. frequent cuttings are
very beneficial This Is seen in the
treatment Of the lawns. The oftener
they are cut the better is the sod pro-
dnced- If il Is intended to convert a
meadow into pasture it is advisable to
NOW II FIRE Iuentiy with a view of max
ng firm sod. When il is expected to
harvest n CROP of clover seed the first
ruiting should b. done early in the sea
snn- When all grass and clover were
cut with the hand-scvthe
Two mowings of the same field involved
uuch labor. Now that the work Of
and raking rs well rs now .
~ is done by the aid of machinery the
lmount of manual labor is greatly rs
iuced- Chicago 1Imes.