Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-07-13
COUNTING TOO MUCH ON THE HAY
CROP.
CONDITION WHEN 1T IS BETTER TO HAIR
VEST Two CROPS THAN ONE.
TIMOTHY ovEREsrIMATED.

The weather through May and the
early part OF June was unusually favor
able to the growth of grass, and many
persons are predicting an immense crop
Of hay. On rich land well set TO young
grass there should be full crop, and
ready to cut early 10 the season, but
there is always great deal Of moving
land that Is 40 reduced In fertility and
from which the best varieties OF grass
have died out that the crop must be
small however favorable the weather.
A full crop Is q national blessing and II
Is to be hoped that the barns will be well
well filled this year. But the rainy
weather of the spring and early sum-
mer has not been favorable to the corn
crop. On wet land much seed has failed
TO germinate and what has come up has
grown slowly. In some parts OF New
England the continued wet weather has
prevented the putting Ia Of great deal
Of seed or has delayed the sowing 40
much that the crop expected will be
first Of June by the head OF the largest
seed house in the city that up to that
date the sale Of millet and hungarian
seed had been very light compared to
ordinary seasons. fear that too many
farmers are counting on larger hay
crop than they will be able TO lind when
the harvest Is over. What the weather
will be the remainder Of the season no
one can predict with certainty. AS one
extreme Is apt to follow another we may
look for dry period vet that will great
ly reduce the bulk OF the late seasons
growth. IL il better to calculate on =
small yield and have a large one than TO
depend on an abundance and be disapoint-
ed in consequence OF drought for which
no provision has been made. Ii should
be our aim this year as In other years TO
grow as large stock OF cattle food rs
possible. On all land that has lain idle
thus far on account of the cold wet
weather, plans should be laid for getting
In such forage crops as will mature In
the time still left. Corn and millet may
De started any time in June or the early
part of July. There are many grass
fields that viii produce hut a small
amount of hay which IL cut early will
leave ample time for the growth OF
double the weight OF millet that they
will give of hay. Should the season
prove as productive OF hay as it has
promised still the extra crops will not
come amiss. II Is good thing Ia have
q surplus TO carry over from one year TO
another. IL ANYTHING will make one
feel blue II Is TO be out OF food for the
stock just when general scarcity makes
the prices high.
CUTTING HERDS GRASS
&c. +. c." asks for the best time TO
cut herds grass TO feed 20 cows for milk.
Also whether II would be better to cut
swale hay In June and agsiu 10 Septem-
Der or let II stand until the last part OF
July.
There Is no question but Whist early
cut hay Is more valuable for feeding
COWS In milk than IL hay that has stood
till fully grown.
Young timothy contains IL 81 percent
of albuminoids, the most costly portion
Of feeding material, but IL il Is allowed
to stand till in early bloom che percent
Of albuminoids IL reduced TO 963, so that
five tons OF the early cut would be
worth about the same as six tons cut In
early bloom. IL allowed TO stand still
later till the seed is ripe the amount OF
albuminoids would again reach a high
percent, IL IS, but as grass Is not usual
ly digested by cows but passes through
them unchanged, even so thst ii will
germinate and grow In the manure, the
increased value Is practically lost. And
not only is the seed lost but there is
farther loss In the value OF the leaves
and stems which have become more
woody and less digestible. Ii has been
nv aim for many years TO finish my
hayiug by the time the grasses begin TO
show the blossoms. Instead Of begin
ming having the first Monday after the
Fourth | like TO be all through by
that date. Some years have finished
on the last day Of June. This OF course
would be too early for the northern
sections of New England. Here timothy
ia usually coming into bloom the first
week in July, though there may be
weeks difference in fields according 10
their location on the northetly or south
erly sides Of hills. The crop is also
earlier on rich than on poor land. When
grass Is cut early on rich land there Is al
ways second crop worth cutting and the
two are far more valuable than one would
he IL left TO get its full growth before cut
ting. This Is especially true where
moving fields have been cleared from
rocks so they can be moved and rsked
by machine power.