Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-05
WHEN TO MAKE HAY.
Interesting Theories Formulated BY Pro
Nsssors Armsby and Sanborn.

Interesting Theories Formulated By Pro.
fsssors Armsby and Sanborn.
The best quality of hay. every thing
considered. ismade in dry but sunless
| weather, with little dew. and as little
handling over it as is practicable. Too
long exposure to a burning sun renders
the hay brittle, and consequently some
| of it will be lost in handling.
Clover hay, it is generally conceded, is
best when the clover was only fairly
wiltcd before being put in the cock.
there to remain few days. the cocks,
in the meantime. to be opened two or
three times.
Experimental evidence largely favors
the idea that early cut forage is supe-
rior to late cut. not only as regards its
chemical composition, but its digesti-
biiity. This is explained by the fact
that young plants. while in a state OF
active growth, contain relatively
more protein and less fiber than do
mature plants.
Prof. Armsby. of Wisconsin. says on
the subject: Three elements enter into
the problem of selecting the best time
for cutting the grasses. viz, the quail
ity of the fodder. its quantity and tho
amount of labor depended upon it.
While any grass is ripening large
part of the protein and starch passes
from the leaves and stem to the seeds,
which are SO small that they are sell
dom masticated or digestcd. More
over, these are easily lost in curing.
The hay made from fully ripe grass is
essentially straw. If only one crop is
to be obtained. the best time for cut
ting is usually when the plants are just
beginning to blossom. At this time y
larger crop is obtained than if cut
earlier. while the digestibility of hay
is not materially impaired. If GU.
early, there is a great advantage 10 3
second crop. In deciding which is the
proper stage of growth for cutting
grass for hay. one ought not to forget
that :. late growth of the plants nearly
to seeding impairs their strength. In
case of red clover, it greatly inter-
feres with the crop of seed which is
obtained from the second cutting.
Prof Sanborn's (of MissourD cx-
periments in feeding hay appear to in
dictate that the value of early cut hay
may have been overestimated. He
says results obtained make it appear
that, not only is the amount of hay
cut from a given area larger when cut
after bloom than when cut in bloom.
but the late cut hay is most nutritious.
Prof. Beal, of Michigan. thinks it very
doubtful whether it is best to cut all
forage plants at the same stage of add
yancement. Most farmers, rs 4 rule.
prefer to cut clover when few Of the
first heads begin to turn brown.
Common sense must be used in the
matter Of deciding when each special
kind Of grass should be cut. Much
will depend upon the weather: If the
weather be cloudy with a fall of rain
every few hours. the grass designed
for hay must be left standing until the
atmosphere becomes dry again. no
matter at what stage of growth it may
be.
Timothy hay is easily cured. heavy
for its bulk. presents Il good appear
ance and suffers less than many
grasses when allowed to go to seed
before cutting. Prof. Sanborn believes
that timothy is worth thirty-iive to
forty per cent. more per acre for cut
ting when sufficiently out of bloom in
preference to cutting in bloom OF be-
fore blooming.-N y. World