FOBAGE. 55 



in regard to grass, though not to so great an extent as in corn, as the 

 grass plant does not absolutely die. Still it exhausts the greater part of 

 its nutriment in its efforts for the formation of its seed. 



It may be asked, Why should not a horse eat hay seeds as he will eat 

 corn seeds? The Author cannot say, but as a matter of fact the horse 

 will not eat them. Again, the seeds generally fall out when the grass is 

 ripe, and are, therefore, lost. 



It is, therefore, essential to good nutritive hay that the crop should 

 have been cut whilst the grasses are yet in flower, i. e. before they have 

 seeded. 



Fortunately it is very easy to recognise in hay the grasses which have 

 seeded, and those which have not seeded. 



95. Of saving of hay. 



Again, hay may be composed of only the best grasses and herbage, and 

 may also have been cut in good time, and may yet be inferior, bad, or 

 even worthless, on account of having been badly saved. 



This, however, is always a question of degree. No absolute rule can 

 be laid down. A moderate shower of rain, falling on the best upland 

 grass, will cause it to lose its green colour in hay, which yet may be in 

 perfectly good condition, and none the worse as regards real value. 



Any considerable degree of wet falling on hay, especially when nearly 

 dry, will cause it to lose its natural bright, clear, healthy appearance, and 

 will make it more or less deficient in aroma, and more or less of its 

 nutritive qualities will be washed out. As stated above, it is a question 

 of degree. 



Hay which has long been exposed to the action of rain, wind, and sun, 

 is easily recognised by a ragged, confused, broken, washed-out appearance, 

 and by dinginess of colour. 



This subject will be further explained in the succeeding paragraph on 

 making hay. 



96. On making hay. 



The following few remarks on making hay, extracted from a number 

 of the ' North British Agriculturist,' though they may at first sight seem 

 foreign to the scope of this work, will assist the reader in forming a 

 right estimate of its value. 



" In the operation great attention and quickness are required in order 

 to retain in the hay all the nutritive qualities of the grass. If the grass 

 can be converted into hay without any alteration in its composition, and 

 with little or no loss of its feeding properties, the water only being ex- 

 tracted, it will then be as well made as possible, and will possess the 

 greatest value. With this view it should not lie long in the field after 

 being cut, but should, if possible, be carried the second or third day. 

 Rain will cause the crop to lose its green colour, but does not of itself 

 really injure the new-mown grass, as is often supposed. Mischief, how- 

 ever, ensues if the grass is injudiciously turned over in wet weather, 

 because the blades become bruised and injured in the process, and then 



