292 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



time to cut hay: ''It depends, 1st, upon tlie feeding value of the crop gath- 

 ered ; 2d, upon the vahie of the aftergrowth ; 3d, upon the vahie of the roots 

 and stubble left to enrich the soil for another crop." He says : " We are forced 

 to the conclusion that, as far as the feeding vahie of the crop is concerned, the 

 most profitable time for harvesting clover is a little before the period of full 

 blossom. The experiments upon other grasses have not been as extensive, but 

 so far as they have been made, as well as from analogy, we may adopt the same 

 conclusions." And he adds: '"These results, obtained by positive science, 

 agree with the experience of the most observing, intelligent, jiractical men." 

 Another thing : if we cut early, we save more time for the second growth, for 

 another mowing or feeding. The whole of the article referred to is worthy of 

 careful study. 



I am not a chemist, nor have I made careful experiments to find the best 

 time to cut hay; Ijut in an address, January, 1873, printed in the Eeport of the 

 Michigan Board of Agriculture, on theoretical grounds, with some observation, 

 I stated that grasses should be cut earlier than is the practice with most farmers, 

 — a little hefore the 2}tnnfs were in flower. Several reasons are there given, some 

 of which are the same as now given by Prof. Atwater. 



DKAINAGE. 



Agani and again the best English farmers have proven that it pays to drain 

 wet lands for the grasses. ^V"e have often seen the same thing done in different 

 parts of this State, always with good results. Such fields stand the drought 

 better and yield more and better feed. The sedges die out. There is always an 

 imjjrovement, notwithstanding the fears and cautions expressed Ijefore ditching. 

 I cannot hear of a pasture anywhere which has been injured by tiling. I never 

 expect to. 



MOWING PASTURES. 



Two other customs may now be added in the treatment of English pastures. 

 The droppings of cattle are often broken uj) and scattered to prevent rank spots, 

 which are not eaten off by stock. It takes less time than might be supposed. 

 They also mow off small patches of grass at a time, where it is found running 

 to seed. A small quantity at a time is readily eaten on the ground by the 

 stock, as it wilts and partially cures. Thistles and many other weeds are treated 

 in the same manner. In place of the weeds and seeding grasses will often 

 spring up a fresh bite, veiy agreeable to stock of all kinds. In pastures in this 

 country we very often see June grass and otlier grasses seeding early in the 

 season, thus weakening the roots. The dead dry tops are left all summer, where, 

 if cut off in time or eaten off, there would be a good sujiply of fresh herbage all 

 the season. 



After getting a large number of replies from some of the best farmers of Eng- 

 land last year (1875), in a summary given by Morgan Evans, he says : 



" It apix3ars to be the general practice of those who have laid down permanent 

 pasture, to select for the purpose the loamy, retentive portions of the farm, and 

 to cultivate the lighter, more easily worked, as arable land. At the latest date 

 the most popular grasses are timothy, alsike, several fescues, white clover, rye 

 grass, and a few others. More seeds are sown to the acre than was formerly 

 thought necessary ; a brushing or light harrowing follows the sowing. Some 

 mow and some pasture the young grass the first season, being careful not to cut 

 or feed too close. The use of artificial feeds for grazing stock is very highly 



