TIME OF CUTTING. 161 



species, and from small or medium crops ; and the farmer can 

 soon satisfy himself as to tlie profit of more attention to the 

 mixtures of grasses. 



TIME TO CUT GRASS FOR HAY. 



Having carefully selected and judiciously mixed and sown 

 his grass seed at a proper season, the farmer may confidently 

 hope to have an abundant crop of grass the following year, 

 when there will naturally arise one of the most important ques- 

 tions in the economy of the farm, and that is, when to cut 

 grass to make into hay, or at what stage of its growth it is most 

 valuable for that purpose. This is a point on which even experi- 

 enced farmers difler, but the weight of authority will be found 

 strongly for cutting at the time of flowering. Most practical 

 farmers, in answer to this question say that hay is sweeter, and 

 possesses more nutriment Avhen cut in full blossom than at any 

 other stage. One of the most intelligent farmers of Middlesex 

 county says : " I prefer to cut grass when in blossom, because 

 it will make more milk and more fat, and cattle prefer it to 

 that standing later. It keeps them loose and healthy. I have 

 no doubt hay of the same bulk weighs more if it stands in the 

 field till the seed forms, and for this reason some who sell most 

 of their hay let it stand." A farmer of Worcester county 

 says : " When designed for milch cows, store, or fattening ani- 

 mals, I prefer to cut in the blossom, because it makes more 

 milk, more growth and more beef. For working cattle and 

 horses I cut about six days after the pollen has fallen, because 

 it does not scour or loosen the animal so much as when cut in 

 the blossom." A farmer of Hampshire county says : " Next to 

 sweet, fresh grass, we think that rowen will make cows, work- 

 ing cattle or horses thrive better than any other feed, unless in 

 the case of cattle hard at work. We conclude, therefore, that 

 all hay is best cut early. Coarse hay will keep stock tolerably 

 well, cut early, which if allowed to mature would not be eaten 

 at all." A farmer of Hampden county says : " We cut after 

 the blossoms begin to fall, and before they have all fallen. It 

 has more substance and weight cut at that time than if cut 

 sooner, more sweetness and juice than if cut later." A farmer 

 of Berkshire county says : " Our rule is to cut hay in the blos- 

 som, as it is then in the best state for feeding, less w^oody and 



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