GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 103 



Marsh Hay. Throughout the country there are large stretches 

 of marshes that are cut for hay, especially in dry seasons. Along 

 the coast of the New England States are extensive acres of salt 

 marshes that also furnish considerable quantities of hay for stock 

 feeding. The marshes are cut at low tide, generally at a time when 

 the grasses are in bloom. The yield of cured hay secured varies 

 from one-half to one ton to the acre. The hay from these tide 

 marshes contains about 6 per cent protein, 2 per cent fat, and 30 

 per cent fiber ; its digestibility does not differ greatly from that of 

 common hay. The composition and general value of common marsh 

 hay are similar to those of salt marsh hay ; the better kinds of these 

 grasses make a fair quality of rough feed, of a similar value 

 as cornstalks. 



Market Hay. The growing of hay for the market is an im- 

 portant industry, especially in the northeast and western States. It 

 is estimated that about one-fifth of the 1908 hay crop in this country, 

 or over 15,000,000 tons, was removed from the farms and sold on the 

 local market or shipped to city hay markets. Hay markets super- 

 vised by an organization of hay dealers are established in a number 

 of our larger cities which provide for official inspection of -the hay 

 sold, and for standard quotations and methods of weighing. 15 These 

 markets recognize five grades of hay, viz., the standard grades: 

 Choice, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, and " No-grade " hay. The follow- 

 ing kinds of hay are quoted and sold on these (markets : Timothy, 

 clover-mixed, prairie, midland, packing hay, and alfalfa. 16 



The percentages of different grades of timothy on the market 

 are about as follows, according to McClure: Choice, 10 per cent, 

 and No. 1, 20 to 30 per cent, leaving 60 to 70 per cent of all market 

 hay to grade as No. 2, No. 3, or " No-grade." When shipped to the 

 market the hay is put up in bales of different dimensions. The 

 statement given below shows the sizes of standard hay bales in 

 common use. 



Standard Sizes of Hay Bales 



Dimensions Weight pounds 



small bales fiexllxUI} 6 - 100 



Middle-sized bales {l8X22X36 } 100-150 



Large-sized bales 22X28X46 150-250 



The best quality of hay is obtained when the meadows are kept 

 in grass only for a period of three or four years at the outside. A 



15 Farmers' Buls. 362, 508, 677, 977, 987, 1009, 1049; Vt. Bui. 171. 

 18 The requirements for market hay of the different grades are given in 

 Farmers' Bulletin 508; see also Woll, Handbook, p. 406 a and &. 



