THE HAY CROP. 245 



In considering this subject, there are three important things 

 which should receive attention, viz. : the importance of the crop ; 

 how it can be improved ; and the best mode of securing it. 



Statistics show that the value of the hay crop in Massachusetts, 

 in 1865, was $13,195,274, and the value of neat stock, horses, 

 mules, asses and sheep, was $19,854,580 ; so that for every 

 dollar's worth of stock there was less than sixty-seven cents 

 worth of hay, which will at once be seen to be a small allowance 

 when we consider that there is a large number of horses and 

 many cows and oxen that are fed on hay and other articles of 

 food almost and many of them the entire year. This deficiency 

 must be made up from other articles of food, and to a great 

 extent from corn and the smaller grains, some part of which are 

 raised in our own State, at a much greater expense than the 

 same value of hay. But large quantities are transported from 

 the South, and much larger from the West. 



Taking into account the number of animals in Massachusetts 

 and their value, which are dependent to so great an extent on 

 the hay crop for their support, I think no one will for a moment 

 question its importance, or fail to exclaim that this truly is an 

 important one, and should receive a greater share of attention 

 from the Massachusetts farmer than heretofore, and that he will 

 not only endeavor to increase the quantity, but also the quality, 

 and at the same time its value. 



Hay, lor the support of stock, is what manure manufactured 

 upon the farm is to the farm — the foundation of its productive- 

 ness. It is the chief food to be relied upon for the support of 

 our animals while the earth is bound by the frosts of winter, or 

 ceases to furnish herbage to be cropped by the animals 

 themselves. 



Statistics show that in 1865 there were in the State 682,284 

 acres of grass land mown, and that the product was 622,671 

 tons ; or about 1,825 pounds per acre, if we take the entire 

 crop of the year. This shows a small yield, and far less than it 

 might be. It was stated by a member of this Board, that a man 

 owning four acres of grass land cut from it last year twenty- 

 eight tons of well cured hay. This may seem a large statement, 

 but it was further stated that he kept fifteen horses, and put all 

 the manure made from them upon this piece of land. The crop 



