184 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ment is correct every way; and hay may just as well be kept 

 dried in that form, as dried three or four days, and lose half 

 of its value. 



The Chalriman. Why didn't 5'ou go on getting your hay 

 in that way ? 



Mr. Johnson. I did, until I got a cellar under my barn. 



]\Ir. Simons. The last gentleman who spoke left the in- 

 ference on my mind that he thought the drying of hay was 

 injurious. I understood the professor that drying did not 

 injure it. 



Professor Goessmann. No crop loses in its feeding value 

 by careful drying. It is the only process by which the or- 

 dinary feeding value of grass may be preserved entirely. 

 The making of brown hay, as Mr. Johnson has described, is 

 a practice which is carried on, to some extent, here and there, 

 and when we cannot dry our grass it comes in as a great 

 help ; that is, the loss is not as great as in a silo. But it is 

 more difficult, and I suppose will be found more difficult to 

 manage successfully than the management of a simple silo. 



Mr. Williams. What effect does falling dew have ? 



Professor Goessmann. The falling of dew is not of any 

 particular consequence. 



Mr. Williams. Then there is no disadvantage if we do 

 not cock our hay up at night ? 



Professor Goessmann. I have never seen any evidence 

 of it. 



Question. Is there not always a loss when hay is stored 

 damp enough, so that sufficient heat is generated to change 

 its color? 



Professor Goessmann. Yes, sir : there is no doubt about 

 that. Heat indicates a chemical transformation, a change of 

 valuable material, no doubt. The difference between brown 

 hay and ensilage is a mere matter of degree, nothing else. 

 If brown hay is well managed, the production of it undoubt- 

 edly saves more than the production of ensilage will. But 

 as I understand, and general observation tells me, it is more 

 difficult to prepare brown hay of good feeding qualities than 

 to prepare good ensilage. 



Question. Is it possible, in getting in hay that is not 

 thoroughly cured, to tread it solid enough in the mow to 

 preserve it any better than if it is not trodden down ? Can 

 you exclude the air by that operation ? 



