162 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



much sweeter than later, and leaves the roots in better state for 

 a second, or another annual crop." Another very intelligentj 

 practical farmer says : " We cut in blossom, because it is then 

 most palatable to stock. If allowed to stand much longer there 

 is a draft upon the soil for the growth of the seed, which is not 

 repaid by the additional value of the hay, if, indeed, it is 

 increased in value at all. My opinion, derived from my own 

 experience, is, that the gi-asses will sooner die out if allowed to 

 stand later." A farmer who prefers to cut all other grasses 

 when in blossom, says : " It will not do to cut blue joint or 

 fowl meadow till some of the seeds fall, as it will soon run them 

 out." An intelligent farmer of Norfolk county says : " When 

 English grass is in full blossom it has all the good qualities it 

 can have. From that time I think it loses in value in propor- 

 tion to the time w^hich it stands. Swale hay should be cut 

 rather green. If fully ripe it is hard and dry." Another says : 

 " We cut about the time the blossom falls. The grass is then 

 at its full growth. If it stands much longer the leaves begin 

 to die at the bottom and the grass grows tough and hard, and 

 I think the longer it stands the less it will weigh w^hen dried. If 

 it is cut much earlier it will shrink and dry up and does not seem 

 to have so much nutriment in it, and I have noticed cattle will 

 eat more in bulk than when cut at the right time." Another 

 says : " The time of cutting depends very much upon the use 

 you wish to make of it. If for working oxen and horses, I 

 would let it stand till a little out of the blossom, but if to feed 

 out to new milch cows in the winter, I would prefer to cut it 

 very green. It is then worth for the making of milk in the 

 winter, almost double that cut later." One other extract will 

 Buffice. A farmer of Middlesex county says : " I cut my red 

 clover before the heads begin to turn brown. When the clover 

 is quite heavy I cut it when only one-half the heads have blos- 

 somed, because then 'cattle will eat all the stems. Clover is 

 injured more by half when it stands long after blossoming than 

 any other kind. I find my clover hay in the barn much heavier 

 when cut quite early." 



These extracts, taken at random from a large number of let- 

 ters from practical farmers all over the Slate, indicate very 

 clearly the prevailing practice. The replies from about one 

 hundred and fifty towns- are, that farmers prefer to cut the 



