The Grasses, Fresh and Cured. 



181 



study, that aside from protein, tlie timothy plant had not elabo- 

 rated its MI complement of nutrients at the time of blossoming, 

 and to secure the largest total quantity of nutrients in the hay we 

 must wait until the seeds of this grass are nearly ripe. By so 

 doing we gain no protein or ether extract, but a very consider- 

 able quantity of crude fiber, which is of low feeding value, and 

 still more nitrogen-free extract, which is an important addition. 



Yield of hay and nutrients from timothy at four periods of growth — 

 Illinois Station. 



260. Time to cut grass for hay. — Generally the admonitions are 

 for early cutting, and where there is much hay to be gathered, 

 work should certainly begin early in order that it be completed 

 before the grass seeds aie so ripe as to shell from the heads of the 

 late-cut grass. Early-cut hay seems more palatable to stock, and, 

 pound for pound, more satisfactory. On the other hand, we can 

 secure a considerably larger quantity of the carbohydrates by 

 delaying the harvest until the grass seeds are fully formed. In 

 the increase of nutrients in the timothy plant up to a late period, 

 we have a repetition of what occurs in that other grass, the Indian 

 corn plant, in the study of which we have learned that the storage 

 of nutrients continues up to the last stage of ripening. (241) 



For the dairy cow and sheep grass should be cut early, since these 

 animals do not relish hay that is woody and lacking in aroma, 

 as is the case with late- cut hay. For horses and fattening cattle 

 the choice of dates for cutting probably falls the other way, being 

 in favor of later cutting. These animals subsist mostly on con- 

 centrated feed, and hay serves more for '^filling," as horsemen 



