Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1904-08-03
EARLY CUT HAv THE BEST.


Late cut hay spends better than
early cut hay" was once quite popu-
lar adage among farmers. They
meant by this that stock would eat
less OF the late cut hay than Of the
early cut, and make out to pull
through the winter. Nowadays the
thoughtful farmer is anxious to have
his stock eat all the feed they can
digest and asslmilate. for no knows
his profits come from the food con
eumed over and above the amount re-
CURED for maintenance.
With this view OF the case he seeks
to have his hay and roughage of all
kinds as well as the grain he feeds
his stock OF the best possible feeding
value, and their feeding value depends
upon composition and digestibility.
In harvesting hay, therefore, these
factors as we'll as the yield. must be
taken into account when reckoning
upon the time to cut the crop. There
Is very prevalent opinion that the
longer grass is permitted to stand be-
fore harvesting the greater will be the
yield. and that this increased yield
win compensate. In q large degree,
for the decreased rate Of dlgestlbillty.
Sometimes when we get at the facts
In q given case our ideas change very
materially. Il may be they will in
regard to the yield and value Of late
and early cut hay.
A few years ago the Maine expert
ment station carried on an experiment
comparing the value Of early and late
cut hay Two acres, as nearly alike
In amount of standing grass as could
be determined. were set 4 apart for
the trial. The grass was cut, the hay
made and stored under exactly SINH
lar conditions, except that on one acre
the timothy was cut when in early
bloom and that ON the other acre ten
days past bloom. The hay was put
in the barn In good condition, where
1t was allowed to dry until November
SSth. when 1t was taken out Of the
NOV and rewelghed. There was only
difference OF sixty-fve pounds in
the weight of the dry hay, and this
was In favor OF the hay cut In early
bloom. Even this slight difference
would weaken the claims Of the adj
vocates OF late cutting, but when the
difference in the digestible nutriments
.pel acre was ascertained the early cut
acre was way ahead Sin Its value as
the following figures. show: Sixty-six
pounds Of protein, 172 pounds of oarbo-
hydrates and 10 pounds Of fat (ethef
extract).
Percentages Of digestlble nutrl-
ments, protein, cut in early bloom,
4.e9; cut ten days past bloom. 1923;
difference in favor OF early cut hay,
400; carbohydrates, cut in early
bloom, 4S7S; cut ten days after the
bloom, 1880; difference In favor Of
early cut hay, 3.4S; fat, cut in early
bloom, EOS; cut ten days after bloom,
j. 20; difference inifayor of early. cut
nay. .3S.
Pounds OF digestible nutrients per
ecre. protein, cut in early bloom, ITO
pounds; cut ten days past bloom, 1O4
pounds; difference in favor Of early
cut hay, 66 pounds; carbohydrates,
cut in early bloom. 1,575 pounds; cut
ten days past bloom, ,402 pounds;
difference in favor Of early cut hay
772 pounds; fat cut in early bloom, 67
pounds; cut ten days past bloom, 81
pounds difference In favor Of early
cut hay, 10 pounds.
with these figures Of actual trial
before him, why should the farmer
hesitate to commence his haying
early?