GRASS CROP. 109 



it for all those purposes, aud also to g-ive strength and vigor to 

 working oxen and horses. And is there any one stage in which 

 grass will answer all these requirements ? 



It is true of grass that it combines all the elements in its com- 

 position necessary to support the life and physical organization of 

 all herbiferous animals, in a perfection attainable from no other 

 food ; for in it are united all the nutritive and fat producing con- 

 stituents. Hay cut at the right time and cured in the correct 

 manner, contains almost in perfection the same which we found in 

 the grass. And when shall we do it ? 



There are generally two roads to almost everything, a long one 

 and a short one. Necessity at this time compels me to take the 

 long road. 



Within the last two years quite a lengthy article appeared in 

 one of the papers of this State on this subject. It purported to be 

 written by a man who was a large mail contractor, and had for 

 several years fed a great number of horses. His decision was, 

 that grass for hay should be cut while in the "second blossom." 

 He had fed many horses and carried the mail over sevei'al coun- 

 ties, and he pught to know just when grass should be cut. 



Nearly all of our religious, literary and political papers have a 

 column devoted to agriculture, and they too must have the credit 

 of disseminating useful knowledge among us poor ignorant 

 farmers ; so they too must publish the same article, especially the 

 part containing the " second blossoming." But there might be 

 some in the State who would fail to see any of those publications ; 

 so our friend of the Maine Farmer must do his share, and he too 

 acknowledges the point and throws up his hat. See Maine 

 Parmer, January 16th, 1869 — -"The second bloom is probably the 

 best time and is generally recognized by farmers." This then is 

 the final decision. But they have all arrived at this conclusion 

 without asking my opinion, and of course I shall dissent even if I 

 am obliged to make out a minority report. 



More than forty years ago, when a summer school boy, I heard 

 this theory advocated by a man who, if he lived now, would be 

 called an " old fogy." He always planted, sowed, killed his hogs, 

 &c., according to the moon. He did every thing by the moon 

 except cut his hay, and. the time to commence that was the 

 " second blossoming." And it was always with him as with 

 every one who advocates this practice.; by the second week of his 

 haying he was always cutting se^d-hay. When I first heard this 



